The anti-Russian sanctions have no immediate effect on Kazakhstan but protective measures are necessary in light of Russia's currency fluctuations, says President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"While these sanctions have no immediate effect on Kazakhstan, there is nothing good (about them) because Russia is our main partner," the president said in an interview shown on national television channels on Sunday evening.

"Our people are now traveling to Russia to buy cheap goods. It appears good for people (consumers) who buy cars 10,000-15,000 (dollars) cheaper than in our country and they say they are buying houses as well. On the one hand, for Russia such cheap prices are good in terms of sales, but on the other hand it is bad because everything is gone at such a price because the ruble exchange rate is fluctuating," Nazarbayev said.

"Now, under conditions of the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, we too will be forced to look at what to import and what not to import because this could jeopardize our businesses. (... ) If we made goods domestically, we would not have to import anything," said the head of state.

Work will be carried out on this issue, the president stressed.

"We will look at it, all is happening in due course. We are trading with the European Union and other countries, financial institutions are coming to our country, we have investments coming to us both from the East and from the West so we will work and monitor it very strictly," he said.