Georgia and Kyrgyzstan face scrutiny over potential car sanctions evasion for Russia
Georgia banned the re-export of cars to Russia in 2023 to comply with international sanctions. However, recent data shows that car exports from Georgia surged to over $2.4 billion in 2024, with Kyrgyzstan becoming the top destination. Exports to Kyrgyzstan increased by 85% last year, raising concerns that Georgia is still a key route for Russia to bypass sanctions. Observers note discrepancies in trade data, suggesting many cars sold to Kyrgyzstan may actually be diverted to Russia. Both Georgia and Kyrgyzstan claim to be addressing illicit trade. Kyrgyzstan has introduced new regulations to monitor imports, but the effectiveness of these measures is unclear, as the 2024 trade data does not reflect any significant changes.