Russian Defense Minister Vows To Pay Rent For Kyrgyz Base

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov

Russia's defense minister says Moscow will fully pay overdue rental fees for a military facility in Kyrgyzstan by the end of February.

Anatoly Serdyukov said on February 27 that $15 million will be paid to Bishkek for the use of the Kant military base outside the Kyrgyz capital.

Serdyukov's comments came after Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev said during a visit to Moscow that the debt issue had been resolved.

Atambaev told Russian media that Moscow has not paid the lease for more than four years and that Kyrgyzstan has been paying the base's utility bills.

Kyrgyzstan also hosts a U.S. transit center at Manas Airport.

Atambaev has said no foreign troops should remain at Manas after 2014.

With reporting by Itar-Tass and Interfax