BISHKEK, June 13 (RIA Novosti) - No more personnel will be sent to a Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan until social infrastructure is in place for servicemen, a senior Russian officer said Tuesday.
Under an agreement between Russia and Kyrgyzstan, the 300-strong Russian force at the Kant air base 20 miles west of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, was supposed to have been more than doubled to 750 from June 1, but Col. Oleg Vinogradov said that Air Force Commander Vladimir Mikhailov had given orders on delaying the move until all the necessary conditions were provided for the servicemen and their families.
"We intend to create normal working and living conditions for the personnel, including by building accommodation, equipping working places, and only then expand [the personnel]," Vinogradov said.
Kant was officially opened in October 2003, and has five Su-25 (Frogfoot) close support aircraft, four L-39 (Albatros) combat trainers, and two Mi-8MT (Hip-H) multipurpose helicopters, an export version of the Mi-17. The base will also receive an An-26 (Curl) transport aircraft soon.
Vinogradov added that the air base would train Kyrgyz servicemen under bilateral agreements.
