Kyrgyzstan Receives The First Batch of Pechora-2BM Air Defense Missile System From Belarus
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Defense received the first batch of the modernized “Pechora-2BM” air defense missile system, which it ordered from Belarusian defense company Beltechexport in October of last year. The ceremony was attended by Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, Minister of Defense Baktibek Bekbolotov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of the State Committee of National Security Kamchybek Tashiev, and deputies. In addition to the air defense missile systems purchased from Belarus, trucks, ambulances, and minibuses were purchased for the Kyrgyz Armed Forces, as well as communication equipment, various weapons, anti-tank and helicopter ammunition, engineering equipment, sniper rifles, pistols, grenades, and rockets.
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov stated during his speech at the ceremony that the “Pechora-2BM” system is the first mobile air defense missile complex purchased with budget funds since the country’s independence. In the continuation of his speech, Japarov drew attention to the rapidly changing international situation, stating that the size and consequences of armed conflicts in different regions today differ. The president stated that the state policy should be strengthened in the field of ensuring national security in light of the current global situation, saying, “We are building our military policy on the principles of strengthening the armed forces in a way that ensures national security and increasing defense capability.”
Baktibek Bekbolotov, Kyrgyzstan’s Defense Minister, announced in October last year that the country had purchased the Pechora-2BM air defense missile system from Belarus. The defense minister announced at the time that the air defense missile system purchased from Belarus would be deployed in the Batken region of the country’s south. The Batken region, which connects Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, is the site of the most frequent armed conflict between the two neighboring Central Asian countries’ border guards. More than 150 clashes and conflicts have been recorded between the two countries in the last ten years, including deaths as a result of land claims, water resources, and plateau use disputes. The most recent border conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan occurred in September of last year in the Batken region. According to local media, the conflict killed at least 94 people and injured more than 100 others.