Kazakh blocks US gov’t website for phishing – Information Ministry

Astana, Sep 4 (Agency) Kazakhstan has blocked the website of the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security due to signs of phishing, the Kazakh Ministry of Information and Social Development told Sputnik on Sunday. “On April 26 of this year, a relevant order was prepared and sent to restrict access to 21 phishing resources, including the bis.doc.gov site [site of the Bureau of Industry and Security],” the ministry said. The ministry noted that information circulating on social media that Kazakhstan allegedly blocked the website because it revealed Kazakhstan’s aid to Russia to circumvent sanctions “was misleading. “After additional verification, access to the site may be restored, the ministry added.

“The ministry, in cooperation with other authorized bodies, will conduct an additional check for violations in the activity of the internet resource, and if there will be none, measures may be taken to restore access to said internet resource,” the ministry said. Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the military operation it launched in Ukraine at the beginning of 2022. In February 2023, the European Union blocked the transit of European goods and dual-use technologies through Russia in the 10th package of sanctions in order to prevent sanction circumvention.Western officials have accused Central Asian countries of helping Russia evade sanctions.