Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, October 12, 2023, in his first foreign trip since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March.
Putin met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and attended a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional bloc made up of nine former Soviet republics.
The visit comes at a time when Russia is isolated from much of the world due to its invasion of Ukraine. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
Putin’s visit to Kyrgyzstan is seen as an attempt to show that Russia still has allies in the region. However, it is also seen as a sign of Russia’s diminishing global stature.
In an interview with Reuters, Kyrgyz President Japarov said that he had discussed the ICC arrest warrant with Putin. Japarov said that Kyrgyzstan respected the ICC but that it would not arrest Putin.
Japarov said that Putin had assured him that Russia would continue to support Kyrgyzstan economically and militarily.
The visit comes as Russia faces challenges to its influence in some former Soviet republics, including Armenia, where Western sanctions have strained Moscow’s relations with countries in what Russia considers its sphere of influence.
Sanctions-related issues have affected Russia’s ties with these nations, particularly in their compliance with Western sanctions against Russia.
Some Western observers have raised concerns about the role of Kyrgyz intermediaries in facilitating sanctions-busting activities by Russian businesses, leading to sanctions being imposed on Kyrgyz companies by the United States.
Kyrgyzstan’s central bank has also urged local banks to tighten compliance with Western sanctions against Russia.
The meeting between Putin and Japarov is also seen as a sign of Russia’s growing ties with China. China is a major investor in Kyrgyzstan and is seen as a counterweight to Russia in the region.
Putin’s visit to Kyrgyzstan is a significant event, but it is important to note that Russia is still isolated from much of the world due to its invasion of Ukraine. The ICC arrest warrant for Putin remains in effect and it is unclear when or if he will be able to travel outside of Russia again.
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