Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on August 14 for an official visit aimed at strengthening economic and political ties between Russia and the small Central Asian country.

Mishustin attended an economic forum in resort town Cholpon-Ata, located on a shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in northeastern Kyrgyzstan, with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev.

Kyrgzystan is known as a conduit for re-exports to Russia, some of which dodge international sanctions imposed on Moscow. Officials there, meanwhile, remain tight-lipped about the Grinex crypto exchange registered in the country. In late July, bne IntelliNews reported on how, using the exchange, $9.3bn had been reportedly moved over a period of four months using a new cryptocurrency token, A7A5, designed to enable cross-border payments that avoid Western sanctions on Russia. Several companies in Kyrgyzstan involved in re-exports to Russia have been hit with western secondary sanctions.

A complication in relations is Russia’s ongoing crackdown on Central Asian labour migrants, millions of whom work in the country despite what critics say is increasingly xenophobic and tough action meted out by the authorities to regulate and, in many cases expel, guest workers and other migrants, particularly Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek nationals.

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs this week warned that around 90,000 Kyrgyz citizens who have not yet complied with the latest Russian migration rules could be deported from Russia at the end of September.

Kasymaliev noted that the Russian PM’s visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Eternal Friendship and Partnership between Russia and post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan. He said that bilateral cooperation was developing in many areas.

"I am pleased to note the increase in bilateral trade. Last year, the volume of trade reached $3.9 billion, and we are close to the target of $5 billion. In the first five months of this year, trade turnover increased by 16% and amounted to $1.3 billion. I also note the success of Russian business in Kyrgyzstan. Russia's contribution to the development of the country as a major investor is growing," Kasymaliev added.

Mishustin said that Kyrgyzstan was one of Russia's closest partners in the current global situation.

"Despite the difficult external situation, our bilateral cooperation is developing successfully. We are implementing an intergovernmental programme for cooperation until 2026. The volume of bilateral trade is growing. Russian investment is important for the Kyrgyz economy. Our Kyrgyz-Russian intergovernmental commission is working in this direction," Mishustin said.

Mishustin was due to also meet with Kyrgyz president of nearly five years Sadyr Japarov during his trip.

Also on his agenda is a meeting of the heads of government of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in Cholpon-Ata. The bloc, which groups Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia, is supposed to offer freedom of movement of labour, goods, capital and services. This grates with many Kyrgyz politicians when they consider what is happening with Kyrgyz labour migrants in Russia.

This year brings the 10^th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s accession into the EEU.