MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting the newly elected president of Kyrgyzstan, voicing hope for the Central Asian nation’s political stabilization after it saw a violent change of government for the third time in 15 years. Sadyr Zhaparov won 79% support in the country’s Jan. 10 presidential vote, a victory that came just over three months after he was freed from jail by crowds of protesters. Speaking at the start of their Kremlin talks on Wednesday, Putin voiced hope that the constitutional changes spearheaded by Zhaparov will help “normalize the domestic political situation.” Kyrgyzstan, which is a member of Russia-dominated economic and security alliances, hosts a Russian air base and depends on Moscow’s economic support.
