According to him, the decision was made by a court in Brussels, which issued a verdict of acquittal for "Bakay Bank" in a lawsuit against the non-governmental organization "Open Dialogue Foundation" (ODF), registered in Poland and Belgium.
In 2023, ODF published materials on its platform calling for sanctions against "Bakay Bank," claiming its involvement in circumventing the embargo in favor of Russia.
In response, "Bakay Bank" filed a lawsuit against ODF, and the court found these accusations unproven.
The French-speaking court in Brussels noted that the "Open Dialogue Foundation" made serious accusations without sufficient supporting evidence. The court also ordered the organization to remove its publications and post the full text of the decision on its website, as well as to reimburse legal costs amounting to about 1,500 euros.
Alagozov also mentioned that another bank in Kyrgyzstan, "Keremet," has been sanctioned by the US and the UK due to suspicions of circumventing sanctions against Russia. Similarly, "Capital Bank" has also come under UK sanctions.
He emphasized that sanctions are accusatory in nature, and neither the US nor the UK has yet provided concrete evidence of these violations.
Alagozov added that the court's decision regarding "Bakay Bank" underscores Kyrgyzstan's commitment to international norms and its readiness to protect the interests of its businesses abroad. The Republic is prepared to confirm the transparency and legality of its financial institutions' operations.
It is worth noting that recently, the countries of the European Union approved the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, which affects Russian banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, as well as a number of organizations from Kyrgyzstan, including the "Tolubai Bank" and the "Eurasian Savings Bank." Earlier, sanctions were also imposed against "Keremet" and "Capital" banks. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan stated its adherence to international obligations and readiness for constructive dialogue with the EU to prevent circumvention of sanctions.
