Epress.am News from Armenia
Kyrgyzstan wants to increase the rent for the deployment of Russian military forces in the country, Kyrgyzstan Defense Minister Abibilla Kudayberdiev told Echo Moscow.
“Previous agreements were signed in the mid-90’s. At that time, $4.5 billion USD seemed like a very large sum. We are now going to try to increase the rent by 3–4 times,” said Kudayberdiev.
Russia has four military installations in Kyrgyzstan, including the airbase at Kant outside Bishkek, which operates under the auspices of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, reports RFE/RL.
There are currently 5 Russian military facilities in Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek proposes to Moscow to combine all the military bases into one overall union and to extend the term of contract for an additional 49 years.
Kudayberdiev stressed that discussions were ongoing and that no agreement had been reached on either the base or the debt.