President of Kyrgyzstan is expected at Victory Day events

The only foreign leader whose visit is planned to Russia on Victory Day is Sadyr Japarov, the President of Kyrgyzstan. This was told to Vedomosti by a diplomatic source and interlocutor close to the presidential administration. According to them, he is expected to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the Victory Day. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov did not respond to a request from Vedomosti about whether any other foreign leaders (for example, the head of the allied Belarus Alexander Lukashenko) could arrive in Moscow for the holiday.

In 2022, there was not a single foreign leader at the Victory Day parade, which took place 2.5 months after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine. As explained in the Kremlin, then it was decided not to invite guests. “The fact is that this is not an anniversary date. This is our holiday, this is a holy holiday for all of Russia, for all Russians,” Peskov told reporters on April 29, 2022. “But we did not invite foreign leaders.” Lukashenka, for example, then celebrated Victory Day in Minsk.

Zhaparov was called to Russia on March 31 by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, who oversees international relations in the government. “On May 8-9, we expect your official visit,” he said at a meeting with the Kyrgyz president. – Of particular importance to this visit is the fact that it is timed to coincide with the celebration of our most important common holiday – Victory Day. Of course, we always remember what contribution Kyrgyzstan made to this victory and the defense of Moscow, this is sacred to us.” According to Vedomosti sources, during the visit, which will take place these days, it is planned not only to attend ceremonial events, but also to negotiate at the highest level (the last time Vladimir Putin and Zhaparov met in December 2022).

Moscow sees Kyrgyzstan “as a reliable partner” against the backdrop of the unleashed “struggle for Central Asia,” said Mars Sariev, a Kyrgyz political scientist and expert on Central Asia. On April 23, Sariev notes, Donald Lu, a former US ambassador and now assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, arrived in Bishkek: Western officials “are trying to win over the Central Asian countries to their side.”

“But Kyrgyzstan is now closely tied to Russia politically and economically,” Sariev says. – Moscow agreed to supply electricity to the country in order to close the deficit. Our states are closely cooperating within the framework of air defense. Kyrgyzstan is one of the reliable outposts of Russia in the region, and I think this is the reason for the future visit of the Kyrgyz president to Moscow.”

Maxim Ivanov and Elena Mukhametshina contributed to the preparation of the article