Fears backdoor routes are supplying Russia with Irish goods on sanctions list

Fears backdoor routes are supplying Russia with Irish goods on sanctions list

Irish exports to countries in Moscow’s orbit, including Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, hit almost €216.5m at the end of 2024

Kyrgyzstan has long been suspected of acting as a back door for Russia-bound trade

Exports to countries in Russia’s orbit have continued to soar since it invaded Ukraine, fuelling fears Irish goods subject to sanctions are finding their way into the country through the backdoor.

Irish exports to countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan hit almost €216.5m at the end of 2024, up nearly €95m since 2021 – the year before Russia invaded Ukraine. In November 2023, the Department of Enterprise said the EU had identified these countries as s