Connect with us

Politics

Russia bans imports of agro-products from Kazakhstan after refusal to join BRICS

Published

on

Putin and Tokayev at the SCO summit in Astana, July 2024 © Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik

On the eve of the BRICS summit, Kazakhstan said that the country is still “watching the evolution” of the community with interest, and despite the proposals received by President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, the question of joining the association is not yet on the table. President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev said that in the current circumstances there was no alternative to the UN.

Immediately afterwards it became known that Russia is restricting the import of agricultural products from Kazakhstan, including cut flowers.

The Russian agency in charge offered as an explanation: “Kazakhstan re-exports most flowers from the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. However, the competent agencies of these countries do not provide the appropriate level of control over the safety of products. The decision was taken in order to preserve the phytosanitary well-being of Russia and the volume of exported goods, as well as in view of the numerous cases (43 cases) of detection in 2023 and 2024 in flower products of the object quarantine for member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union – western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), which is a polyphagous. Potential economic damage from the penetration and spread of western flower thrips is more than 11.5 billion rubles,” the agency said in a statement.

Growing pressure on Kazakhstan

Kuat Dombai, director of the C+5 Centre for Central Asian Studies, commented on the dynamics of Russia-Kazakhstan relations for Euronews.

“Restrictions and bans on imports of crop products and wheat between Kazakhstan and Russia undoubtedly reflect growing pressure on Kazakhstan, although it is not the first time they have occurred. Previously, Russia repeatedly banned the transit of Kazakh oil through the Novorossiysk seaport under various pretexts of technical failures at the terminal, which coincided with some pressing issues in bilateral relations. More than 80% of Kazakh oil is exported to Europe through it.”

What guides Astana’s position on possible BRICS membership?

“Kazakhstan has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to violate or to some extent bypass the sanctions measures imposed against Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine, which is in practical terms a very difficult task, given that the country is sharing the world’s largest land border of 7,500 kilometres and is in a single customs space with Russia within the EAEU,” explains Kuat Dombai.

The BRICS meeting is taking place in Kazan while Russian troops are destroying Ukrainian towns and villages. How does Russian military aggression affect relations between Russia and Kazakhstan?

“Kazakhstan has undoubtedly found itself in a very difficult economic situation, falling under the threat of secondary sanctions, traditional logistical chains have been destroyed, and Kazakh society is logically and soberingly aware of the threat of possible territorial claims around the corner. Given that after the collapse of the USSR it was two countries – Kazakhstan and Ukraine – that were signatories of the Budapest Memorandum with guarantees from the West in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons,” the analyst explains.

Kremlin: BRICS “is not an alliance against anyone”

Many Western observers believe that amid international sanctions and ongoing military aggression against Ukraine, Russia is trying to show that plans to isolate Vladimir Putin have failed.

The Kremlin says more than 30 countries have applied to join BRICS, but the exact list of countries has not been disclosed.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interviewwith Russian media that “BRICS does not force anyone to sacrifice anything.” According to Lavrov, “this association is not against anyone.” The head of Russian diplomacy also noted that with regard to Kazakhstan’s statements about the UN, “it is necessary to clarify this position.”

“Kazakhstan is a member of many other organisations – the OSCE, CIS, CSTO, SCO and an active member of the Organisation of Turkic States, which, at the initiative of Turkey, is now strengthening ties and is on the rise. The organisation pays great attention to the representatives of our Central Asian allies and strategic partners. None of this prevents either Kazakhstan or other Central Asian countries from actively participating in the United Nations, which is a universal structure but which is now in crisis through no fault of our own. It seems to me that in the long run our southern neighbours, our allies in the CSTO and the EAEU, first of all, will see the direct benefits of rapprochement with the BRICS. It is not necessary to join, but to co-operate in the implementation of specific projects – there is no doubt. This is in the interests of all of us,” Lavrov said.

Politics

BREAKING: Anambra PDP governorship candidate, Ezenwafor escapes assassination

Published

on

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forthcoming Anambra State election, Jude Ezenwafor, has escaped assassination attempt on his life after he was shot by hoodlums.

‎Ezenwafor, who is currently in a private hospital in Abuja where he is due for a surgery session, told journalists early Saturday morning that he suffered a near death situation when gunmen accosted him around Wuse 2 on Friday night.

‎Still nursing injuries amidst excruciating pains, Ezenwafor confirmed that he was on his way home after an appointment when the incident happened.

“I’m currently in the hospital. The doctors are making efforts to operate me so that they can pull out bullets from my body,”

‎The PDP Governorship candidate was shot alongside two persons who were with him.

Continue Reading

Politics

LP Reps Caucus warns against any harm on Obi, urges Tinubu to caution Okpebholo

Published

on

The Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned the recent open threat to the life and security of Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party, by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The caucus, led by Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, described the threats to Obi by Okpebholo as outrageous, shocking, uncouth, and disappointing.

The LP lawmakers, in a statement by their leader, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, issued in Awka, strongly rebuked Governor Okpebholo, describing his remarks as “uncivil, unconstitutional, undemocratic, and unbecoming of a public servant in such a high office.”

The caucus said: “Mr. Peter Obi’s philanthropic efforts nationwide embody his humanity and empathy for the people, transcending political affiliations, ethnicity, and other divides.

“Rather than being vilified or incited against, he should be commended for supporting human capital development in the nation.

“As a champion of democracy, nation-building, and sustainable development, Peter Obi deserves protection and support from all who share these values.

“What manner of example do we set for the younger generation, especially as regards public conduct, civility, respect for human rights and the rule of law, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

“How do we fight violence in the land, if as leaders we openly encourage intolerance, bigotry, and anti-democratic tendencies, like the Edo State governor has publicly exhibited?

“Politics ought not be a game of life or death. And no one deserves to be harmed on account of his or her political beliefs or association. Politics of bitterness, pettiness, and violence should never be encouraged in a democracy, or by people that claim to be democrats.

“If Governor Okpebholo could make such inflammatory remarks in a public setting, one wonders what kind of inciteful rhetoric he might be using behind closed doors against opposition party members or perceived enemies of his party.

“It is instructive that Governor Okpebholo uttered his infamous and satanic verses against Peter Obi at the defection ceremony of Hon. Marcus Onobun, a House of Representatives member who he had only days before threatened with the demolition of his house for allegedly harbouring cultists.

“It would be interesting to ask Governor Okpebholo if he would still go ahead to pull down Hon. Onobun’s country home — which he had marked for demolition — now that he has forcefully coerced him into his political party?

“In fact, it is only in these climes that a governor would glibly boast about insecurity in his state, as well as lie about the death of citizens, without providing any shred of evidence.

“We, therefore, urge President Bola Tinubu to call the Edo State governor to order. And hasten to warn that no harm should come to our leader, Peter Obi, anywhere in Nigeria or beyond.

“The other day, it was Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State; today it is Okpebholo of Edo. If the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) thinks it can use scaremongering to halt the ever-growing popularity of Mr. Peter Obi, they better think again.”

The statement was in reply to Okpebholo’s remarks at the weekend in Edo, where he insisted that Peter Obi’s safety in Edo cannot be guaranteed if he ever stepped into the state without taking permission from him.

Continue Reading

Politics

Communique of the South East Expanded Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) Meeting held on Thursday 17th July, 2025 at Enugu

Published

on

PRESS RELEASE

Communique of the South East Expanded Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) Meeting held on Thursday 17th July, 2025 at Enugu

The meeting was massively attended by all the delegates and Party Chieftains from the five States of South East Zone. The meeting exhaustively discussed various issues bordering on plans and strategies to rebuild, rebrand and reposition ADC in South East in order to win all the Elective Positions in the 2027 General Elections in Nigeria.

Noting the recent unfoldings in the political landscape of Nigeria with regards to the selection of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the political platform for the coalition to defeat the reactionary and bankrupt All Progressive Congress (APC) led Federal Government in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections in Nigeria and thus, restore Nigeria back to the path of glory.

The meeting deliberated on the strategies to strengthen the structures of ADC in South East Zone from the polling units to the State levels.

The meeting unanimously resolved that in 2027, ADC will not contest elections for the sake of contesting elections but with intention to win elections. The Party will feature candidates that will win Elections in all the Elective Positions in South East in 2027.

The meeting called on the South East political Elites to think futuristically by joining the coalition and adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the only political Party with the manifesto that Focuses on Liberation of South East from the shackles of bad governance and political mediocrity.

The meeting used the opportunity to inform the public that Membership Registration into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is ongoing in all the Electoral Wards in South East, and therefore call on the people of South East to immediately troop out enmass to register and collect their Membership Cards in the registration centers.

ADC South East is committed to Mobilize over ten million members into ADC in South East before the end of 2025.

In order to achieve the aforementioned, the ADC South East Zonal Working Committee (ZWC) constituted five high powered Committees as follows:
1. Contact and Mobilization Committee

2. Media and Publicity Committee

3. Conflict Resolution and Management Committee

4. Planning and Strategy Committee

5. Resource Mobilization Committee

The meeting vowed that ADC will win the forthcoming Anambra Governorship Election and therefore call on the people of Anambra State to come out enmass to register with ADC. In addition, the leadership of ADC in South East assured the meeting that by the end of December 2025, ADC will emerge as the dominant Political Party in South East.

Finally, the meeting Condemned in it’s totality the worsting security situation in South East, and therefore pledge to holistically combat and stop the insecurity in South East Nigeria once elected into Power.

Signed

Chilos Godsent
National Vice Chairman South East

ThankGod Ofoelue
Zonal Publicity Secretary

Continue Reading

Trending