Kyrgyzstan ratifies protocol allowing Russia to own runway in Kant airbase after reconstruction

AKIPRESS.COM - President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov signed into law the protocol on making amendments to the agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Russia on the status and conditions of stay of the united Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan dated September 20, 2012. The protocol of amendments was signed on March 28, 2019 in Bishkek. The amendments will increase the territory of the airbase by 58.3 hectares, allow military drones on the base, and increase the amount of annual rent for the use of land and water by the Russian side from $4,502,495 to $4,794,095.
After the entry into force of the protocol, the parties will organize work to reimburse the Kyrgyz Republic for the amount of rent for the land plots actually used by the Russian Federation starting from September 20, 2012, the President's Office said.
Additionally, the amendments will allow rehabilitation of the airbase's runway. However, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Defense Nurseit Kedeev said that after the reconstruction of the runway, the Russian side will own these "inseparable improvements" until the expiration of the agreement.
"Asphalt or concrete will be laid during the runway reconstruction. It is called "inseparable improvements" under the terms of financing by the Russian Federation budget," said Kedeev.