December 18, 2012 - 20:03 AMT
Kyrgyzstan OKs joint military base with Russia

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has signed off on a law ratifying an agreement with Russia on the presence of a joint military base in the Central Asian republic, the presidential press service said on Tuesday, December 18, according to RIA Novosti.

In September, the two countries agreed to create a joint military base in Kyrgyzstan in 2017. It will include the four military facilities Russia has in Kyrgyzstan at present.

The agreement was signed for a term of 15 years with an option to extend for five years.

Russia has a weapon test range in Karakol, a signals center in Kara-Balt, a radio-seismic laboratory in Mayly-Suu and a Collective Security Treaty Organization airbase in Kant.

All four facilities will be integrated into one base under a single command.