The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Galuzin, says some Central Asia’s nations are signaling that they could join Western sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation. 

Russia’s state-run news agency TASS reported today morning that Galuzin made this statement at the third Central Asian Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club in Tomsk

Mikhail Galuzin; photo / RIA Novosti

“Even as we share the view that unilateral economic restrictions are unacceptable and illegitimate, some Central Asian countries nevertheless do not want to take risks and indicate they are prepared to comply with Western restrictive measures," the deputy minister was cited as saying. 

According to Galuzin, Russia does not dictate to anyone what external and domestic policies to pursue, "when it does not contradict mutual obligations, including those within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the CIS.”

“We are confident that this much is clearly visible and understood in the Central Asian capitals: artificial destruction of ties with Russia can result in more serious damage than the costs of the notorious secondary sanctions," he went on to say.

According to him, Russia is focused on consistently strengthening the strategic partnership with the countries of Central Asia.

The Valdai Club conference entitled "Russia and Central Asia: Aligning with a Changing World" is taking place at Tomsk State University from May 16-17.