Countries Block Russian Payments Over Electronics Imports.

Banks in Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong are blocking payments from Russian companies for electronics supplied through "parallel import" schemes due to the risk of sanctions. The blocking may be related to the banks' fear of falling under secondary U.S. sanctions for cooperation with sanctioned Russian individuals and legal entities. Russian companies may try to bypass bank checks by purchasing electronic components under "alternative" commodity codes, using other payment methods, or buying equipment as a whole. The strengthening control by banks threatens a shortage of the specified products on the Russian market.