Russia bans imports of agro-products from Kazakhstan after refusal to join BRICS

On the eve of the BRICS summit, Kazakhstan said that the country is still "watching the evolution" of the community with interest, and despite the proposals received by President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, the question of joining the association is not yet on the table. President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev said that in the current circumstances there was no alternative to the UN.

Immediately afterwards it became known that Russia is restricting the import of agricultural products from Kazakhstan, including cut flowers.

The Russian agency in charge offered as an explanation: "Kazakhstan re-exports most flowers from the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. However, the competent agencies of these countries do not provide the appropriate level of control over the safety of products. The decision was taken in order to preserve the phytosanitary well-being of Russia and the volume of exported goods, as well as in view of the numerous cases (43 cases) of detection in 2023 and 2024 in flower products of the object quarantine for member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union - western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), which is a polyphagous. Potential economic damage from the penetration and spread of western flower thrips is more than 11.5 billion rubles," the agency said in a statement.

Growing pressure on Kazakhstan

Kuat Dombai, director of the C+5 Centre for Central Asian Studies, commented on the dynamics of Russia-Kazakhstan relations for Euronews.

"Restrictions and bans on imports of crop products and wheat between Kazakhstan and Russia undoubtedly reflect growing pressure on Kazakhstan, although it is not the first time they have occurred. Previously, Russia repeatedly banned the transit of Kazakh oil through the Novorossiysk seaport under various pretexts of technical failures at the terminal, which coincided with some pressing issues in bilateral relations. More than 80% of Kazakh oil is exported to Europe through it."

What guides Astana's position on possible BRICS membership?

"Kazakhstan has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to violate or to some extent bypass the sanctions measures imposed against Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine, which is in practical terms a very difficult task, given that the country is sharing the world's largest land border of 7,500 kilometres and is in a single customs space with Russia within the EAEU," explains Kuat Dombai.

The BRICS meeting is taking place in Kazan while Russian troops are destroying Ukrainian towns and villages. How does Russian military aggression affect relations between Russia and Kazakhstan?

"Kazakhstan has undoubtedly found itself in a very difficult economic situation, falling under the threat of secondary sanctions, traditional logistical chains have been destroyed, and Kazakh society is logically and soberingly aware of the threat of possible territorial claims around the corner. Given that after the collapse of the USSR it was two countries - Kazakhstan and Ukraine - that were signatories of the Budapest Memorandum with guarantees from the West in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons," the analyst explains.

Kremlin: BRICS "is not an alliance against anyone"

Many Western observers believe that amid international sanctions and ongoing military aggression against Ukraine, Russia is trying to show that plans to isolate Vladimir Putin have failed.

The Kremlin says more than 30 countries have applied to join BRICS, but the exact list of countries has not been disclosed.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russian mediathat "BRICS does not force anyone to sacrifice anything." According to Lavrov, "this association is not against anyone." The head of Russian diplomacy also noted that with regard to Kazakhstan's statements about the UN, "it is necessary to clarify this position."

"Kazakhstan is a member of many other organisations - the OSCE, CIS, CSTO, SCO and an active member of the Organisation of Turkic States, which, at the initiative of Turkey, is now strengthening ties and is on the rise. The organisation pays great attention to the representatives of our Central Asian allies and strategic partners. None of this prevents either Kazakhstan or other Central Asian countries from actively participating in the United Nations, which is a universal structure but which is now in crisis through no fault of our own. It seems to me that in the long run our southern neighbours, our allies in the CSTO and the EAEU, first of all, will see the direct benefits of rapprochement with the BRICS. It is not necessary to join, but to co-operate in the implementation of specific projects - there is no doubt. This is in the interests of all of us," Lavrov said.