The press secretary of the President of Russia commented on Kazakhstan's refusal to join the BRICS

Russia respects Kazakhstan's position on joining BRICS. This was stated by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov.

"With respect. Kazakhstan is our friend, our strategic partner, our ally, we value our relations. Therefore, of course, Kazakhstan itself decides on the format of its participation in certain organizations," the Kremlin representative said, answering the question of how Moscow feels about Astana's decision not to join the association.

At the same time, he noted that the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will be eagerly awaited at the upcoming Kazan BRICS Summit.

Earlier, in an interview with the Kazakh news agency Tengrinews, the press secretary of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Berik Uali, said that Tokayev would refrain from applying for membership in BRICS.