Kyrgyzstan refuses to cut economic ties with Russia, citing trade, migrant dependency

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov has said that due to various factors, including economic ones, cannot afford to sever ties with the Russian Federation.

According to Japarov, there are Western countries that asked Kyrgyzstan not to cooperate with Russia, Caliber.Az reports per Kyrgyz media.

"Since the war between Russia and Ukraine began, Western countries have continued to condemn Russia. However, I always openly and sincerely tell them: We cannot abandon cooperation with Russia. Our trade turnover with Russia exceeds $4 billion. We purchase oil, gas, wheat, and other food products from Russia," he said.

According to him, around 1 million Kyrgyz labour migrants are currently in Russia.

"Some of you, certain EU countries, continue to work with Russia despite the sanctions. Your trade turnover with Russia reaches $6 billion a year. When it suits you, you cooperate with Russia without hesitation, yet you tell us not to. This is an unfair demand," Japarov emphasised.

Notably, trade turnover between Russia and Kyrgyzstan has risen by 5.8% in 2024, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk at the Russian-Kyrgyz interregional conference on October 16.

Overchuk highlighted that cooperation is actively progressing through the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, with 3,411 projects underway in Kyrgyzstan as of March 1, 2024.

Russia and Kyrgyzstan also collaborate in media, as well as in humanitarian fields such as culture, education, science, sports, youth engagement, and healthcare.

By Aghakazim Guliyev