Putin Visits Kyrgyzstan

Written by Allan Millward | October 22, 2023

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first trip abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) put out a warrant for his arrest for the alleged war crime of illegal deportation of children from Ukraine. He chose to make this first visit to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan before eventually traveling to China for its third Belt and Road Forum. These are opportune choices for Putin given that neither state is a signatory of the ICC, meaning he does not face the risk of arrest. In addition, Putin’s visit to Kyrgyzstan has offered him a chance to shore up ties with a state that has traditionally been considered part of ‘Russia’s backyard.’ Upon meeting Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Putin stated, “I would like to thank the president for the invitation. We have good reasons [to be here], but even without reason, this visit is long overdue.”

The meeting addressed both significant security and economic considerations in the two countries’ relationship. Putin’s visit coincides with the 20^th anniversary of the opening of a Russian airbase near the town of Kant, which has allowed Russia to project its power throughout the region. In addition to taking part in the ceremonies, Putin made clear he expected that military and defense ties with Kyrgyzstan would expand. Putin also made certain to highlight that Russia was the main supplier of oil products to Kyrgyzstan and the double-digit growth in Russian-Kyrgyz trade; growth that some analysts attributed to Kyrgyz intermediaries who have helped Russian businesses sanction bust.

While Japarov praised the Russian-Kyrgyz relationship, his administration’s actions are telling a very different story. A Collective Security Treaty Organization exercise that was supposed to take place around the same time as Putin’s visit was abruptly canceled. Additionally, the Kyrgyzstan central bank has recently urged local banks to tighten their controls to help improve compliance with Western sanctions against Russia. Putin’s visit concludes with a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional organization made up of former Soviet states. The meeting gives Putin a chance to combat accusations of waning influence in Central Asia. Given Kyrgyzstan’s actions and Armenia’s vocal disappointment with Russia, this could prove to be a challenging task.