BISHKEK. Oct 19 (Interfax) - Russia is Kyrgyzstan's principal strategic partner, Sadyr Japarov, acting Kyrgyz president, said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 (VGTRK) television channel on Monday.
"We participate in the EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union] and the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization], we have no other way, and we'll be cooperating with other states on an equitable basis, and if there is mutual interest, we'll implement this. But our main strategic partner is Russia, I can say that confidently," Japarov said.
Kyrgyzstan and Russia are bound by more than 150 years of "brotherly and friendly relations," he said.
"We've been together all this time, and we'll continue to be together," Japarov said.
"Our relations with Russia are good and will continue to be good in the future. A lot binds us together with Russia, and we can't be separate from Russia in terms of our geopolitical, military, or economic cooperation," he said.
"Kyrgyzstan will fully implement all [...] financial and other obligations to Russia, there'll be no changes, and even if there are some, then only by our mutual consent," Japarov said.
He also commented on the upcoming early presidential election.
Pointing out that the Kyrgyz Constitution does not allow the acting president to run in presidential elections, Japarov said he would run for president if the parliament passes amendments allowing him to do so.
"The parliament is currently preparing amendments to the law on parliamentary and presidential elections. If these amendments allow me to run in the election, I'll run, but it's too early to talk about this so far. No decision has been made on this account yet," he said.
The top-down structure of governance in Kyrgyzstan has been restored, Japarov said.
"The parliament is functioning and has officially endorsed me as prime minister, and I've been assigned the status of acting president. Therefore, the top-down governance structure has been fully restored," Japarov said.
Following parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, people and parties dissatisfied with their officially-announced outcome began to rally in Bishkek on October 4, which grew into unrest. The Central Elections Commission ruled on October 6 to recognize the election results as invalid. At the same time, opposition activists and demonstrators called for a change in government. President Sooronbai Jeenbekov imposed a state of emergency in Bishkek on October 9 and resigned on October 15. Newly-appointed Prime Minister Japarov became acting president on October 16. The parliament lifted the state of emergency in Bishkek the same day.