From RIA Novosti: Russia and Kyrgyzstan signed a series of deals on Thursday including an agreement on maintaining Russian military bases in the Central Asian state, following a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The 15-year base agreement, signed by the two nations’ leaders, will come into effect in 2017 with a possible five-year extension. The agreement sets out what Russia will pay for renting the base, which has not been disclosed. . . .
The two sides also signed a deal on the settlement of Kyrgyzstan’s debt to Russia, totaling $489 million. A $189 million loan Kyrgyzstan owed Russia from 2005 will be written off, while a $300 million loan from 2009 will also be written off in two tranches in ten years, starting from 2016. (photo: Mikhail Klementiev/RIA Novosti)
Image: ria%209%2020%2012%20Putin%20Bakiev.jpg