MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosted the newly elected president of Kyrgyzstan, voicing hope for political stability in the Central Asian nation that recently saw a violent change of government for the third time in 15 years.
Sadyr Zhaparov won 79% in Kyrgyzstan's Jan. 10 presidential vote, a victory that came just over three months after he was freed from jail by crowds of protesters.
Speaking at the start of their Kremlin talks, Putin voiced hope that the constitutional changes spearheaded by Zhaparov will help “normalize the domestic political situation.” The Russian leader also promised that Russia would help Kyrgyzstan counter the coronavirus outbreak.