Significant shipments of advanced measuring instruments from top Western manufacturers, ostensibly destined for Kazakhstan, have been rerouted to Russia, including to sanctioned entities.
Investigations uncovered a network of Kazakh companies sourcing sophisticated technology from German, French, and American producers. These devices are critical for the development and production of electronic warfare systems. Customs data tracked the routes of these products, confirming their eventual delivery to Russia.
A Kazakh intermediary has acknowledged facilitating these shipments. The firm Askarlab reportedly imported high-value radio equipment worth about $2 million since November 2023. The imported items came from leading manufacturers such as Rohde & Schwarz (Germany), Safran Data Systems (France), Mini-Circuits (USA), and Farran Technology (Ireland).
While these goods were officially imported into Kazakhstan via air transport and cleared through customs, some high-tech equipment was redirected to Russia. The shipments included oscilloscopes, RF filters, frequency analyzers, amplifiers, satellite modems, and vector network analyzers.
This situation underscores the urgent need for more robust enforcement of sanctions and measures targeting intermediary nations that facilitate Russia’s access to advanced Western technologies. Strengthening sanctions against both Russia and its enablers is crucial to curtailing its military capabilities and preventing further use of such technology in its aggression against Ukraine.
