Russia will begin arms shipments to Kyrgyzstan in the near future as part of a $1 billion deal signed last year to modernize the Central Asian country's military, Kyrgyzstan's president said at a news conference Monday.
"After reaching a historic agreement with Russia to reorganize our armed forces, all of the paperwork has been completed, and we will soon receive deliveries of artillery pieces, tanks, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles and other military equipment," Almazbek Atambayev said.
He said the newly modernized army would be ready to defend the country by 2017.
The two former Soviet nations signed a 15-year agreement in September 2012 on maintaining Russian bases in the Central Asian country.
Last month Kyrgyzstan officially notified the U.S. that American access to Kyrgyzstan's Manas airbase will be suspended next summer.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
