BISHKEK. Aug 9 (Interfax) - The United States is trying to pressure Kyrgyzstan into anti-Russian sanctions, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said.
"I am receiving letters from many prominent politicians. I view them as an excuse to pressure Kyrgyzstan and win us over. We will not allow that to happen. We are an independent country. We will continue to maintain equal relations with all countries. We will be pursuing a diversified foreign policy," Japarov said in an interview with the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar, while commenting on a letter from a U.S. senator
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez sent a letter to the Kyrgyz president asking for the implementation of sanctions against Russia, according to media reports.
There are no grounds to believe that Kyrgyzstan is helping Russia circumvent sanctions, Japarov said.
"Russia and China do not depend on the small country, Kyrgyzstan. These two states are already neighbors. They share a 4,000-kilometer border. If Russia wants, it can transport any goods by train or barge. We declared our neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine affair from the very beginning. We will continue to maintain this position. The situation won't change in anyone's favor whether we alter our position or not. It does not depend on us," Japarov said.
Kyrgyz authorities banned drone exports after drones from Kyrgyzstan were seized in Kazakhstan, he said.
"A cargo of drones from a Kyrgyz company was detained in Kazakhstan. The company said that the drones were for agricultural purposes. Yet, we prohibit exports of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles nonetheless," Japarov said.
It was reported on July 20 that four companies from Kyrgyzstan were sanctioned by the U.S. government for cooperating with Russia.
According to the Kyrgyz National Security Committee, neither Kyrgyzstan as a state nor any public entities or companies had breached the sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S. and Western nations. Security services began an inquiry to detect and halt such activities of private companies.