BISHKEK/July 24 (The Bulletin) — Russian President Vladimir Putin intervened in a standoff in Kyrgyzstan between a former and current president that had threatened to destabilise the country.
Although he had barricaded himself into his residence outside Bishkek, refusing to submit to an arrest warrant over corruption charges, former Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev was allowed to fly to Moscow by the Krygyz authorities for a meeting with Mr Putin, highlighting just how much clout Russia has in domestic Kyrgyz affairs.
He flew to Moscow from the Russian air base at Kant, near Bishkek, on a specially chartered Sukhoi Superjet 100 operated by Rusjet.
After their meeting, Mr Putin told journalists that he stepped in because he didn’t want any more internal conflict in Kyrgyzstan.
“Kyrgyzstan has already experienced several serious internal political upheavals, specifically, there were two upheavals at least. And this should stop, to my mind, for the sake of the Kyrgyz people,” he said. “The country is in need of political stability and everyone should unite around the sitting President and help him in developing the state.”
Violent revolutions in 2005 and 2010 overthrew two presidents in Kyrgyzstan. In 2005, Kyrgyzstan’s first post-Soviet leader Askar Akayev was given asylum in Russia. Five years later his successor, Kurmanbek Bakiyev was also overthrown and Russia organised for him to go into exile in Belarus.
After landing back in Kyrgyzstan, Mr Atambayev, Kyrgyz president from 2011-17, said Mr Putin didn’t want to see President Sooronbai Jeenbekov targeting his opponents.
“Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin intends to talk about this with Sooronbai Jeenbekov,” he said.
The Kyrgyz government has not commented.
Mr Atambayev has clashed his former protege and handpicked successor Jeenbekov since handing over the presidency to him. He has seen several of his allies and former senior government members arrested on corruption charges and last month Parliament withdrew his immunity from prosecution.
ENDS
— This story was first published in issue 417 of the weekly Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin
