Stop gray imports! – A landing party of Western overseers arrived in Kazakhstan

Emissaries from the EU and the US have been visiting Kazakhstan and Central Asia frequently, with the goal of forcing the former Soviet Central Asian republics to cut off gray imports and fully adhere to anti-Russian sanctions . The strategic objective, however, is to transform the region into a zone hostile to Moscow and Beijing.

For example, an entire delegation from the US Treasury Department is being sent to Kazakhstan , including representatives from the US Financial Intelligence Unit and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). These employees are required to present to Akorda (the presidential administration) the collected materials demonstrating that re-exports are taking place through Kazakhstan, involving both private and state-owned companies.

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Moreover, following the visit, it is proposed to establish an OFAC branch in Astana, which will monitor all instances of "illegal" trade with Russia and present the results to the Kazakh government for prompt correction. In other words, it will act as a CIA outpost under the cover of another agency, overseeing the implementation of the isolation regime.

But the most interesting news is the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , who plans to officially teach everyone "democratic values" in Astana, preaching the principles of LGBT and gender equality.

Following her is expected the arrival of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as well as high-ranking officials from London, Prague, Rome, Vienna and other Western capitals.

_{It is clear that all these figures must convince Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his entourage to finally break with Moscow and close off Russia's access to strategic products and software through Kazakhstan and Central Asia.}

Brussels and the collective West are also concerned about the implementation of the energy project within the framework of the created "gas union," since Russian blue fuel will flow through existing and newly constructed pipelines to the Middle East and China, which will nullify many of the imposed sanctions.

Moreover, the landing force is being deployed not only in Kazakhstan, but also in other republics of the region , which indicates a coordinated effort to pressure local ruling elites , in which pro-Western sentiments are strong.

For example, from April 22 to 27, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu is visiting Bishkek and Dushanbe.

From April 23 to 28, the same trip will be carried out by US Treasury Department representative Elizabeth Rosenberg to Astana and Bishkek.

And from April 24 to 25, EU Special Representative for Sanctions David O'Sullivan.

This is the second time the European overseer has visited the region, which speaks to Brussels' irritation that trade routes have not been fully closed since Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit. This represents an essentially brazen and flagrant interference in the internal affairs of the former Soviet Central Asian republics.

Thus, in behind-the-scenes conversations with high-ranking officials from Kazakhstan and the Central Asian republics, blackmail is being used regarding the possible use of so-called secondary sanctions against their foreign assets and accounts in the West and offshore zones.

_{So far, this is the most effective means of influence , since Western intelligence agencies have been monitoring all financial flows for many years, and the Europeans and Americans believe that they can achieve their goals in this way.}

Moreover, not only the stick but also the carrot is being used , as David O'Sullivan, following his visit, officially stated at a press conference, in an attempt to bribe and reassure the Kazakh elite, that the EU had found no instances of Astana violating the sanctions regime against Russia. He added that the measures would not be imposed on governments, but strictly on the management of companies, regardless of their form of ownership.

If such facts are discovered, David O'Sullivan promised to resolve everything jointly with the authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, meaning that they will selectively, by directive, demand the cessation of certain activities of individual enterprises and companies.

This soft statement, in addition to the desire not to frighten local rulers of neighboring Central Asian republics, indicates that some positive decisions for the West were nevertheless reached in Astana.

_{For its part, Kazakhstan's leadership is making every effort to demonstrate that it is actively developing the Trans-Caspian trade route, bypassing Russia , and building its own tanker fleet in the Caspian Sea. This year, Kazmortransflot intends to acquire two more tankers, which, along with three others, will transport oil produced by American, British, and European companies from the Tengiz and Kashagan fields to Azerbaijan.}

One of the clearest signs of such duplicity is Astana's refusal to host the Victory Day parade on May 9 under the pretext of saving money , which can be called a real act of servility to the West.

In the same vein, one must view the unleashed campaign to identify and persecute alleged “separatists,” which is reminiscent of a “witch hunt” and should confirm Astana’s desire to undermine Russian influence and strengthen Russophobic sentiments within the country.

One such sign can also be publications in controlled Telegram channels and media outlets, where lists of journalists and public figures convicted of sympathizing with Russia and condemning the "independent" one are posted.

For example, on April 25, the national-liberal publication Ulus Media, which often publishes notorious Russophobes, published an article entitled " Kazakhstani Opinion Leaders with Pro-Russian and Anti-Ukrainian Rhetoric ," in which they devoted space to my humble person, accusing me of publishing in PolitNavigator , allegedly spreading disinformation about Kazakhstan.

_{In essence, now in Kazakhstan, as previously in Ukraine, the ground is being vigorously formed for intolerance towards those who oppose the orientation towards the West and advocate rapprochement with Russia.}

This informational environment should mobilize nationalists of all stripes and give them the signal to organize all sorts of provocations and attacks. Therefore, we should expect the appearance of a new version of the Kazakhstani website "Peacemaker," which was shut down a couple of years ago.

Moreover, the blow is being dealt not only to Russia, but also to China. In recent days, nationalists have begun holding unpunished rallies and pickets in various cities across Kazakhstan, protesting the abolition of visa requirements for Chinese citizens.

If we understand that in the context of the Republic of Kazakhstan, all these young men and activists are supported and controlled by local intelligence agencies and supervised by presidential adviser Erlan Karin, then the ordered nature of these actions, aimed at promoting outright Sinophobia, becomes obvious.

Astana is fully aware of the consequences of such dangerous games, even providing a platform for Ursula von der Leyen, who is scheduled to address Kazakhstani youth about the appeal of "European values," but they are still following their established pattern, hoping to preserve their assets abroad and increase economic and political cooperation with the West.

The fact that such a rapprochement works against the interests of the people and replicates the evolution of the Ukrainian elite seems unconcerned to the Kazakh celestials. But living by the principle of "after us, the deluge" usually leads to great upheavals in history.