The Russian Foreign Minister announced the increasing pressure of the West on the countries of Central Asia to join the sanctions against Moscow.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): According to the Central Asian media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in a press conference: The European Union, the United States, and Japan ask the Central Asian countries to refrain from cooperating with Moscow.
 
The Russian diplomat said: "Besides such verbal influences, there is also serious pressure, and Central Asia is threatened to withdraw its markets and investments in these countries so that they do not dare to help Russia circumvent the sanctions."
 
Lavrov noted that the governments of Central Asian countries also have to consider such threats.
 
At the same time, he clarified: "We do not insist that all economic activists in any of the friendly countries come to the stands and say: We are against the sanctions against Russia."
 
The Russian Foreign Minister pointed to the fact that the Russian side has been working amicably and successfully with its partners in Central Asia and is finding new mechanisms and means of cooperation so that they do not face any problems from the West.