Russia restricts shipment of Kazakh oil, gets its coal banned in response

Russia has limited the shipment of oil from Kazakhstan through the port in Novorossiysk. This is the main route for transporting Kazakh oil to Europe, Report informs referring to foreign media.

This happened against the backdrop of a number of harsh statements by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The official reason for the limited shipment was torpedoes and mines from the Second World War found in the waters near the terminal where the oil pipeline from Kazakhstan ends. Demining work, which may last until the end of the month, is scheduled for June 20.

After that, it became known that Kazakhstan suspended the transit of Russian coal. Thus, the Kazakh authorities blocked 1,700 wagons with coal on their territory.

On June 17, during a session with Vladimir Putin, Tokayev publicly announced from the stage of the SPIEF that it was inadmissible for him to recognize the so-called separatist Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR).

Tokayev also refused to accept the Russian Order of Alexander Nevsky. It is reported that Tokayev was planned to be awarded as part of the SPIEF economic forum in St. Petersburg.