Putin Visits Kyrgyzstan Since Court Arrest Warrant

B i s h k e k ,K y r g y z s t a n :Russian PresidentVladimir Putin heldtalks in Kyrgyzstanon Thursday, aCentral Asian nationwith strong ties toMoscow, during whatwas his first foreigntrip since theI n t e r n a t i o n a lCriminal Court (ICC)issued an arrest warrant for him in March.The Kremlin chief has rarely travelled abroad since he sent troopsinto Ukraine in early 2022 and is not known to have left Russia since theICC issued a warrant for him, accusing him of overseeing the illegaldeportation of children from Ukraine. Russia does not recognise theICC’sjurisdiction and has rejected its allegations against Putin. TheRussian leader is also due to travel to China next week for the third Beltand Road Forum in Beijing. Neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are membersof the ICC, which was established to prosecute war crimes. His two-daytrip to Kyrgyzstan will culminate in his participation in a summit of theCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of some formerSoviet republics, in Bishkek on Friday amid signs that Russia’s influencein some parts of the Soviet Union, such as Armenia, is under pressure.
Moscow’s ties with other countries in an area it has traditionally regardedas its backyard have come under pressure over their enforcement ofWestern sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine.At a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Thursday,Putin underscored Russia’s importance as a key trade partner and thebiggest investor in the Kyrgyz economy and said the two sides wouldfurther develop cooperation. He said he would also attend a ceremony tomark the 20th anniversary of Russia’s Kant military airbase which islocated outside Bishkek, a strategically-important outpost which allowsMoscow to project power in the region. Putin cited double-digit growthin Russian-Kyrgyz trade, which some in the West suspect is partly due toKyrgyz intermediaries facilitating sanctions-busting by Russian businesses.The United States imposed sanctions on four Kyrgyz companies inJuly for re-exporting electronics components and other technology toRussia. Kyrgyzstan’s central bank last week urged local banks to tightencontrols over compliance with Western sanctions against Moscow.

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