The cooperation of Kyrgyzstan and Russia in the fuel and energy sector: state, problems and prospects

The Kyrgyz-Russian fuel and energy relations, their condition, main problems and prospects of cooperation are considered. Based on historical, deductive and causal methods of analyzing and monitoring the dynamics of agreements, treaties, accessible Russian, Western and Kyrgyz printed and electronic sources of information, articles and speeches of members of state, non-state institutions, representatives of civil society, political opposition of Kyrgyzstan, the process of building bilateral relations in the fuel and energy sector is considered, including factors due to which the foreign policy Kyrgyzstan is oriented towards Russia. Russian factors affecting the fuel and energy stability in Kyrgyzstan are determined. The interconnection of energy and foreign policies of Kyrgyz-stan is described. The influence of private and state-owned Russian fuel and energy companies (Gazprom, Rosneft, Lukoil) on the foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan is revealed. The activities of these companies in Kyrgyzstan and the sale of the state company Kyr-gyzgaz to the Russian state-owned company Gazprom affect the economic and political security of the republic. Economic and political risks in Kyrgyzstan are given. There are signs of applicability of the (semi-)Rentier State theory in relation to Kyrgyzstan, such as: Kyrgyzstan is economically dependent on foreign aid; the governing elites of Kyrgyzstan do not have access to large incomes and are forced to be influenced by regional and global economies, the inability to solve state economic issues on their own leads to dependence; close connection between policy and economy; energy and economic dependence forces the Kyrgyz government to meet the demands of investors, lenders and partners; Kyrgyzstan does not have sufficient fuel and energy resources to meet domestic needs, but due to a certain foreign policy processes it receives a high degree of access to foreign resources. Support and growth of the hydropower, oil and gas sectors of Kyrgyzstan on the part of Russia make it possible to obtain stable access to resources that play an important role in the fuel and energy stability in Kyrgyzstan, one of the most important factors of economic and political development. The lack of a loyal foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan towards Russia can lead to certain economic difficulties in the fuel and energy complex that can affect the political situation in the country. Relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan are built on a strategic partnership platform that involves financial support in response to loyalty. It is proved that the fuel and energy cooperation between the two countries determines the foreign policy course of Kyrgyzstan.

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