“Asia-Invest Bank,” a subsidiary of the NBU in Russia, may be subject to new sanctions from the European Union. This information was reported by “Sistema,” an investigative project of “Current Time” and “Radio Free Europe.”
On January 29, Bloomberg, citing sources, reported on the preparation of the 16th package of EU sanctions. This package is expected to introduce a phased ban on aluminum imports from Russia and disconnect around 15 Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system.
Restrictions on Russian aluminum are anticipated to come into effect in a year, allowing its import through a quota system. Additionally, sanctions are planned against more than 70 vessels from the “shadow fleet” and a temporary ban on storing Russian oil within the European Union.
“Sistema” provides a proposed list of 15 Russian banks that will be included in the new EU sanctions package. Among them are “Ak Bars Bank,” “UralSib Bank,” Bank “Tochka,” “National Reserve Bank,” “RosEximbank,” “Expobank,” Bank “Sinara,” “PrimSocBank,” BBR Bank, “Moscommercbank,” “Asia-Pacific Bank,” “Kuznetskbiznesbank,” “Mir Business Bank,” and Bank “Kuban Credit.”
Also included in the list is the NBU subsidiary “Asia-Invest Bank,” which was established in 1996 under an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Uzbekistan.
At the end of January, Central Bank Chairman Timur Ishmetov stated that Uzbekistan takes the issue of secondary sanctions seriously. According to him, such risks are constantly present. An action plan for banks has also been developed in case new sanctions are introduced.
Earlier, Spot reported that Uzbekistan increased cargo transportation to Russia by 1.5 times amid the sanctions.