Novosti-Kazakhstan quotes Almazbek Atambayev, Kyrgyzstan’s new interim deputy for economic affairs, as suggesting that Kyrgyzstan would like to join the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.
“We have a common past with Kazakhstan and Russia and naturally our future will be with them in the single economic space,” he said.
Is Kyrgyzstan tilting towards Moscow?
Commentators say Kyrgyzstan’s membership in the WTO is incompatible with membership in the Customs Union.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin recently used the Customs Union as an excuse to bump tariffs on gasoline sold to Kyrgyzstan by 100 percent. Many analysts believe the Customs Union is simply a tool to further Moscow’s interests.
David Trilling is Eurasianet’s managing editor.
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