Volodin and Japarov Discussed Expanding Russia–Kyrgyzstan Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation

On May 7, Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma, Chairman of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, and Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, who arrived in Russia to participate in events marking Victory Day, met in Rzhev.

“Russia values its comprehensive relations with Kyrgyzstan,” the State Duma Chairman said during his meeting with Sadyr Japarov.

The meeting discussed the expansion of inter-parliamentary cooperation between Russia and the Kyrgyz Republic and the preservation and protection of common historical memory.

Mr Japarov noted that Kyrgyzstan is ready to fully support Russia’s initiatives within the framework of its presidency in the EAEU bodies.

In addition, the President of Kyrgyzstan stressed the importance of the policy to protect the Russian language in the Republic and said that he opposes any attempts to manipulate this issue.

Also on May 7, Vyacheslav Volodin and Sadyr Japarov opened a monument in Rzhev in honour of the Red Army soldiers from the Kyrgyz SSR who died in the Battle of Rzhev.

“Rzhev’s land is saturated with the blood of the people of the Soviet Union: Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and other peoples of our large country. Over one million three hundred thousand citizens of the Soviet Union died for it between 1941 and 1943. Only a country that respects its history and honours its traditions can have a future. Only a nation that remembers its heroes has a future,” Mr Volodin said.

In turn, talking about Kyrgyz people’s contribution to the Great Victory, Mr Japarov assured that “May 9 always was, is and will be celebrated in Kyrgyzstan, because the memory is common for all and sacred.”