Kazakh president refuses to help Russia bypass sanctions

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev has said that his country would not violate Western sanctions against Russia.

"Sanctions are sanctions. Moreover, we receive notifications of secondary sanctions from the West. A very complex, delicate work is underway, which I would call the passage between Scylla and Charybdis," Tokayev explained the situation in Kazakhstan, Russia-based online newspaper Gazeta informs.

At the same time, the Kazakh leader said that his country's work with Russia continues, and all concluded agreements remain in force.

"I am confident that Russia will cope with the current difficulties. (...) Russia is acting very well in extreme situations," Tokayev said.

At the same time, he called wrong the assumptions that Kazakhstan owes something to Russia for help during the January political crisis through the Collective Security Treaty Organisation [CSTO].

"In Russia, some people misinterpret this situation, claiming that Russia saved Kazakhstan, and Kazakhstan should now forever serve and bow at the feet of Russia. I believe that these are completely unjustified arguments that are far from reality," the leader of the allied country noted, adding that Nur-Sultan is also an active member of the CSTO.

Earlier, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan Timur Suleimenov said that Kazakhstan would not help Russia circumvent sanctions.