At first glance, it may seem that the corruption scandal in Ukraine and the sanctions against "Keremet Bank" in Kyrgyzstan have nothing in common. Ukraine is at the center of a military conflict and is experiencing political tension, while Kyrgyzstan is a small country in Central Asia trying to maintain a balance between Russia, China, and the West.
However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that these events reflect a unified pattern of Western behavior. Both countries find themselves in a struggle for control over financial flows, political decisions, and internal stability.
In Ukraine, pressure is exerted through anti-corruption mechanisms, while Kyrgyzstan faces sanctions. Ultimately, the goal of these actions is to maintain influence and control over peripheral countries.
Corruption in Ukraine: a tool for changing power
Experts note that the scandal surrounding Mindich is not just an anti-corruption struggle but a clear signal from the West to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The reasons for such pressure are clear:
• unstable front-line situation;
• problems with mobilization;
• dire economic conditions;
• declining presidential ratings;
• Western fatigue from investing billions without guarantees of results.
When the U.S. begins to doubt the manageability of the Ukrainian leader, they employ a well-known strategy:
1. gathering compromising information;
2. monitoring the political situation;
3. initiating investigations;
4. increasing pressure through "independent" organizations.
This approach has already been used against Yanukovych, Saakashvili, as well as political forces in Moldova, Bulgaria, and Latin America.
NABU and SAP were created as independent anti-corruption bodies under American control. However, many experts view them as tools for external governance, operating outside the interests of Ukrainian authorities.
Therefore, the actions of these structures against Zelensky's circle are perceived as preparation for changes in Ukrainian leadership.
Mindich is not an accidental figure. He is well-versed in the financial matters of Zelensky's team, and his disappearance is also a political signal.
Sanctions and information support: a new stage of pressure
Interestingly, immediately after the imposition of sanctions, information support begins from Western structures. In one international report, British law enforcement announced the existence of a wide money laundering network related to the purchase of a stake in "Keremet Bank" to circumvent sanctions and "support Russia."
At the same time, official statements refer not to facts but to hypotheses and possible connections. The information is built on expressions like:
“could have participated,” “presumably linked,” “may be part of a network.”
Thus, the investigation is presented as a global operation, but for Kyrgyzstan, only assumptions are provided:
no names, no amounts, no specific transactions, no documents, no direct accusations.
Nevertheless, the informational effect has already been achieved and perfectly complements the sanctioning pressure. In fact, a three-tiered scheme is created:
1. sanctions are imposed against "Keremet Bank";
2. an informational background about "possible connections" is formed;
3. the necessary geopolitical narrative is solidified.
This allows for the formation of a multi-level strategy of influence, where evidence is not paramount, and the key remains control over the country's financial system.
As a result, even distant mentions of "global networks" become part of the same model observed in both the Ukrainian and Kyrgyz situations: control through pressure on the banking sector and financial flows.
Geopolitical context: Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan in focus
Ukraine acts as a zone of military control.
There is a war going on. The internal instability of power poses a threat to the entire Western strategy. Control must be maximized.
Kyrgyzstan, in turn, is a zone of logistical control.
Central Asia is critically important today for:
circumventing sanctions, Chinese initiatives, international logistics, connections between Europe and Asia.
To control the region, it is necessary to control the banking sector as well.
Origin of cash: different approaches to sanctions
Problems arise from large batches of cash dollars found with figures involved in the Ukrainian corruption case. As noted by deputies and representatives of Ukraine's financial sector, the bundles of currency discovered with Mindich and others have no explanation for their origin.
According to the temporary investigative commission of the Rada, Deputy Head of the National Bank of Ukraine Dmytro Oleinik stated that the regulator does not know how such money entered the country. It is also impossible to verify the origin of the bills by serial numbers, as there is no corresponding registry in Ukraine.
As reported by RIA Novosti, Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak notes that such packages can only be ordered by American banks, and their appearance with private individuals requires a separate investigation. Photos published by NABU show that some bills are marked by the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Kansas City. It is emphasized that only eight Ukrainian banks are authorized to import cash currency, and none of them reported deliveries in such volumes.
These facts, voiced by both Ukrainian and foreign media, raise an obvious question:
if the origin of fresh dollars remains unclear in Ukraine, why are sanctions imposed against Kyrgyzstan, where there is not even minimal evidence?
The contrast becomes particularly striking. In Ukraine, millions of dollars are found in the office of a presidential associate, yet no sanctions are imposed against Ukrainian banks, there is no requirement to check the channels of cash inflow, and accounts are not blocked.
The situation is simply ignored.
At the same time, sanctions against "Keremet Bank" are imposed:
• without transactions;
• without names;
• without documents;
• without investigation.
The basis consists of phrases like "could," "presumably," "possibly linked." Thus, in one case, an obvious flow of opaque cash is not considered a problem, while in another, even the absence of facts becomes grounds for sanctioning pressure.
This contrast vividly demonstrates the essence of the Western strategy: sanctions are applied not where there is evidence, but where there is a need for political control.
