Uzbekistan halts use of Russia's Mir payment cards

MedMira

23/09/2022 09:46

TASHKENT, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan's UZCARD system
has suspended the processing of payments via Mir cards issued by
Bank of Russia's National Card Payment System (NSPK), the chief
executive of which has been targeted by U.S. sanctions.
    The move by UZCARD was warranted by the need "to carry out
the necessary technical procedures", it said in a statement on
Friday without any further explanation.
    An UZCARD representative could not be reached for immediate
comment and clarification.
    NSPK Chief Executive Vladimir Komlev declined to comment on
UZCARD's announcement.
    Russia has promoted Mir as an alternative to Visa  V.N  and
MasterCard  MA.N , which shut off their Russian networks after
Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February.
    The United States last week issued sanctions against NSPK's
Komlev, saying it was seeking to hold the Russian government
accountable for its Feb. 24 invasion and continuing war against
Ukraine.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N30M1OW
    Shortly afterwards, Turkish banks Denizbank and Isbank
suspended use of Mir.
 (Reporting by Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov
Writing by Olzhas Auyezov
Editing by David Goodman)
 ((olzhas.auyezov@thomsonreuters.com; +7 727 2508 500; Reuters
Messaging: olzhas.auyezov.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))