BISHKEK, December 24. /TASS/. The difficulties Russia’s economy is experiencing are affecting the implementation of the Kyrgyz-Russian economic projects, including the construction of the Verkhnenarynsky cascade of hydropower plants and the Kambar-Ata-1 hydropower plant, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev told a news conference in Bishkek on Thursday.
"At a time when Russia’s economy is not booming, it is clear that these agreements will not be implemented," he said. However, Kyrgyzstan "has no right to suspend these projects" in this situation, so it does not rule out the option of searching for new investors. "Unfortunately, so far our Russian friends cannot implement these projects," Atambayev said. "For us this is bad too, because now we will have to look for investors again and persuade them."
According to Atambayev, he conveyed his stance on the matter during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and found "the complete understanding of the situation" on his part. "The Russian president with whom we have very close relationship has got it right," he said. "He realizes how important these projects are to us." Atambayev added that refusal to cooperate with Russia on these projects would be "a bitter pill" for him. "It was our fault too, we should have accelerated the process of allocating land for the construction of these facilities when Russia’s economy was on the rise," he said."