The Kyrgyz authorities are anticipating the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a special ceremony on October 12 as part of his visit to the republic. This visit marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian airbase in the town of Kant, located in Chuy Region. This announcement was made by Muratbek Azymbakiev, the head of the foreign policy department within the administration of the Kyrgyz head of state in Bishkek.
"As part of the upcoming visit, we have scheduled bilateral talks between our head of state, President Sadyr Zhaparov and President Vladimir Putin. During these discussions, the leaders will address important matters on the bilateral and multilateral agendas, and explore prospects for advancing our mutually beneficial cooperation. Furthermore, both heads of state will be participating in a special ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the inauguration of the CSTO airbase in the city of Kant," he stated.
The specific date for this visit has not yet been officially announced by the Russian authorities. It's worth noting that Bishkek is scheduled to host a CIS summit on October 13.
The official visit of the Russian president to Kyrgyzstan comes as a result of an invitation extended by the Kyrgyz president, as highlighted by Azymbakiev.
The Russian airbase located in Kant was established in October 2003 and serves as the aviation component of the CSTO Collective Rapid Deployment Force (CRDF) in Central Asia. It is an integral part of the Russian Federation's Joint Military Base in Kyrgyzstan, which also encompasses the Navy's long-distance communication hub in Kara-Balta (Chuy Region), an anti-submarine weapons testing base in Karakol (the administrative center of Issyk-Kul Region), and an autonomous seismic station in Mayluu-Suu (Jalal-Abad Region).
The 999 Kant airbase possesses the capability to accommodate both frontline and military transport aircraft. Its primary mission is to oversee and control the airspace of Central Asia, with a specific focus on providing air support to units of the CRDF ground component and ensuring the security of Kyrgyzstan's air borders.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS