Posted on 04/08/2010 6:49:35 AM PDT by kronos77
AP
April 8: A protester covered by Kyrgyz national flag walks in front of Kyrgyz government headquarters on the central square in Bishkek.
Russia is sending paratroopers to its Kant military base in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan as the Kremlin gave its support for the self-declared provisional government, Russian news service Ria Novosti reported Thursday.
The approximately 150 paratroopers' goal is to protect the families of Russian military staff in Kyrgyzstan, Ria Novosti quoted General Staff chief Nikolay Makarov, after protests in the capital of Bishkek left dozens dead and hundreds wounded.
"The president has decided to send two companies of paratroopers there and some 150 people have arrived in Kant," Makarov, who is with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Prague for the signing of a new arms deal with the U.S., was quoted.
The Russian airbase was put on high alert, according to Defense Ministry sources, while the U.S. said its Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan is continuing to function.
Russia's Kant base, 12 miles east of Bishkek, has been operating since 2003 and has some 400 Russian military personnel.
Russia is supporting the new provisional Kyrgyz government, opposition protesters who took power in the capital and several other regions in the ex-Soviet republic, according to Ria Novosti. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin reportedly spoke to the new opposition premier, Roza Otunbayeva, who requested economic support from Russia.
"It is important to note that the conversation was held with Otunbayeva in her capacity as the head of a national confidence government," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Ria Novosti.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Putin just taught Zero another lesson in Realpolitik. Zero gets his photop in Prague while Putin shifted the balance-of-power in Central Asia.
Send Wesley Clark in there, he’ll show those Russkies. /s
Race between Carter and Obama. I still put the peanut ahead because of Iran and Nicaragua.
Russia Recognizes New Kyrgyz Leadership
08 April 2010
By Nikolaus von Twickel
Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP
Protesters posing in Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s cabinet room inside Kyrgyz government headquarters on central square in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Thursday, April 8.
Russia on Thursday recognized Kyrgyz opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva as Kyrgyzstan’s new head of government after President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled the capital.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who earlier denied that Russia played a role in anti-government protests that led to the collapse of Kyrgyzstan’s government on Wednesday, spoke by telephone with Otunbayeva during his trip to Novosibirsk.
“It is important that the conversation was held with her in her role as the head of the government of national confidence,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, Reuters reported.
“Otunbayeva said she fully controls the situation in the country,” he said.
Obama plays Checkers, while Putin plays Chess.
Heard John Batchelor last nght, and it seems most likely that Putin’s hand was in this all along. On the other hand, what are the Chinese thinking. Both want to beat up on US, but eventually they’ll be butting heads.
Looks like they took Ruski money to throw US out of their base but they instead blackmailed us by asking for triple in rent, all while keeping the Russian money. Can’t say that I blame Putin
Surprise... surprise!!! Who woulda thought it?
Surprise... surprise!!! Who woulda thought it?
The Russians are in “recognition” mode, sounds eerily familiar.
Way to go Obama! /s
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