«We believe that Western sanctions are illegal, although they have their own justification. They have their own protective measures,» he said.

Amangeldiev expressed confidence that the Kyrgyz authorities’ dialogue with the EU and the United States regarding the restrictions would be successful.

Earlier, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev described sanctions against Kyrgyz banks as unfair measures and stated that Kyrgyzstan was not helping Russia circumvent restrictions and that there was no concrete evidence of such violations.

Kyrgyzstan has repeatedly stated that sanctions imposed on its banks are unfounded. In 2025, President Sadyr Japarov criticized the West over the restrictions during his speech at the United Nations, describing what he called unjustified sanctions as interference in the country’s internal affairs and pressure hindering the development of a still-emerging economy.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is taking place from June 3 to 6. This year’s main theme is «Pragmatic Dialogue — The Path to a Stable Future.» The forum’s program focuses on shaping a new model of global development amid the transformation of the world economy.