EU imposes sanctions on Uzbek companies over Russia links

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The European Union, as part of its 20th package of sanctions related to Russia, has introduced restrictions against two companies from Uzbekistan operating in the cotton cellulose production sector, according to a statement by the Council of the EU published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The sanctioned entities include the Fergana Chemical Plant for Cotton Cellulose Production and Raw Materials Cellulose.

Similar measures against these enterprises had previously been introduced by the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Western authorities assess that products from these companies may have been used in the production of weapons for the Russian armed forces.

Both companies were previously mentioned in a joint investigation by international media outlets. The reports alleged that the enterprises supplied cotton cellulose to Russian gunpowder plants, both directly and through intermediaries. According to journalists, the scale of such supplies increased significantly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.