The Week in Kazakhstan: Schemes, Sales, and Sentences

Several companies linked to Kazakhstan have been included in the European Commission’s expanded 20th sanctions package, which was published on April 23.The additions include Kazakhstan-based United Trading Group and its founder Alimzhan Bekov.The Commission also lifted sanctions against several banks in Tajikistan, and banned exports of certain goods to Kyrgyzstan due to the risk that they may ultimately be reaching Russia.The measures restricting exports to Kyrgyzstan mark the first time that the EU has made use of its anti-sanctions circumvention tools.EnergyState-owned utility conglomerate Samruk Energy has said it plans to sell its stake in Bogatyr Komir, one of the world’s largest mines.In its annual report, published this week, Samruk Energy said that it had agreed to sell a 35% stake in Forum Muider, the Dutch company that owns Bogatyr Komir, in December 2025 to an undisclosed buyer.Samruk Energy and Russia’s Rusal previously both owned 50% stakes in Forum Muider before each sold 15% to Primet, a Qatari company (as reported in Samruk Energy’s Q3 2025 report), for an undisclosed sum in September. [Read more here.] The Russian government announced that it will temporarily halt the flow of Kazakhstan’s oil to Germany through its Druzhba pipeline, Reuters reported on April 21, citing insider sources.On April 22, Kazakhstan’s ministry of energy said it had not been notified about delivery schedule changes, but suggested the move could be linked to recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.The following day, Russia’s deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Kazakhstan’s oil will be redirected via other routes “due to current technical limitations.” Almasadam Satkaliyev, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters on April 21 that the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant is set to be financed by a joint governmental loan between Kazakhstan and Russia, with Moscow providing up to 85% of the total sum, and Astana providing the remaining 15%.