Russia is losing its last "friends": neighboring states have made an unexpected decision

This was another blow to the regime of Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin after Armenia froze its participation in the CSTO military bloc and Kazakhstan refused to join the BRICS.

According to Uzbek media reports, the Uzbek parliament said it had studied about a thousand key documents of the EAEU and "did not find any benefits for Uzbekistan" in them. The decision was made despite a visit to Uzbekistan by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who promised the country "business benefits," "new markets," and "fair competition."

"As for our Kazakh colleagues, their country has received very few benefits from joining the EEU," said Akmal Saidov, first deputy speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the republic's parliament. He added that it would be "optimal" for Uzbekistan to remain in observer status and maintain its independence and sovereignty.

According to Radio Liberty, political scientist and founder of Central Asia Due Diligence Alisher Ilkhamov called the EAEU a less attractive organization amid the war in Ukraine and sanctions. He added that by refusing to join the EAEU, the Kremlin will increase pressure on Uzbekistan – the State Duma has already called for visas for Uzbek citizens, and propaganda media have begun to actively cover the situation with Russian-language schools in the country.

Earlier this month, advisor and spokesperson for the head of Kazakhstan, Berik Uali, said that his country has no plans to join the BRICS. At the same time, he emphasized that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had already received such proposals.

"At present and most likely soon, Kazakhstan will refrain from applying to the BRICS, including taking into account the multi-stage process of consideration of the membership issue, as well as other issues related to the prospects for the development of this association," Uali said.

Tokayev's spokesman noted that he prioritizes the UN "as a universal and non-alternative organization in which all pressing international issues can and should be discussed." However, the President of Kazakhstan is in favor of reforming the UN Security Council "based on broad consultations of UN member states and taking into account the interests of the "middle powers," as, in his opinion, this body has lost the ability to "make important and fateful decisions."

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that fearing sanctions, the Uzbek parliament passed in the 1st reading a bill that would ban banking operations in the country for individuals and legal entities under sanctions. After that, local banks began to massively refuse to accept payments from Russian companies, which increased the time for transactions to take up to two weeks.

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