Camilla Jessen
Kyrgyzstan stages dramatic welcome for the Russian leader.
Russian President Vladimir Putin received an elaborate and highly choreographed welcome as he arrived in Kyrgyzstan for a three-day visit.
The authorities had staged a grand ceremony featuring trained eagles, mounted horsemen, guard dogs and traditional performances.
The spectacle was organized in Bishkek ahead of a regional security summit.
Elaborate welcome
Local forces and performers lined the outdoor venue as Putin arrived, with handlers presenting hunting eagles and uniformed riders forming part of the ceremonial escort.
Traditional musicians and dancers completed the display.
Kyrgyz officials framed the event as a gesture of respect toward Moscow, while Putin was en route to a broader gathering of regional allies.
Talks and agreements
According to the Kremlin, Putin is set to hold informal discussions with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov before formal negotiations and the signing of a cooperation declaration. His delegation includes several ministers and Russian business figures, among them billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Putin is also scheduled to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during the visit.
The final day of the trip will center on the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Moscow-led military alliance that includes several post-Soviet states. Leaders from across the region are expected to attend the event in Bishkek.
This is Putin’s second trip to Kyrgyzstan since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
His previous visit, in October 2023, was his first foreign appearance after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant accusing him of war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children.
Sources: Agerpres, Kremlin statements, Digi24
