Kyrgyz premier gets Russia to resume gasoline deliveries
BISHKEK – Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev has secured an agreement with Russia that will allow for the resumption of Russian gasoline deliveries to Kyrgyzstan, Radio Liberty reported.
Atambaev returned to Bishkek on Friday from Moscow, where he had talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Kyrgyzstan was forced to introduce gasoline rationing following a decision earlier this month by a Russian refinery in Omsk to stop supplying fuel to nonmembers of the Commonwealth of Independent States' Customs Union.
Atambaev's adviser, Farid Niyazov, told Radio Liberty that the trip was fruitful and Russia will deliver gasoline to Kyrgyzstan regularly in the future. But he implied that prices, which rose steeply due to the shortages, are likely to remain high.
The Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia Customs Union was launched last year. It offers trade privileges to member countries, including lower export-import tariffs and therefore cheaper prices for many goods.
Atambaev has called for Kyrgyzstan to join the customs union, but many Kyrgyz politicians are against it.
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