BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 6 (UPI) -- Kyrgyzstan's new leader wants to strengthen ties with Russia by introducing joint citizenship, Interfax news agency reported Friday.
Acting Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who was swept into power in the Central Asian republic's "Tulip Revolution" in late March, supports the idea of introducing dual citizenship with Russia, his presidential press service told Interfax.
"The idea of dual citizenship is coming from the public itself, so the matter should be supported and settled," the press service quoted Bakiyev as saying.
On Friday, Bakiyev met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in
Central Asia, Metropolitan Vladimir, who also threw his weight behind the idea.
"The intentions of the Kyrgyz side to legalize dual citizenship between Kyrgyzstan and Russia will offer greater confidence in the future to the citizens of both countries," Vladimir said
Bakiyev also said that during his recent travels around Kyrgyzstan, local residents had approached him with requests to open Russian language schools. "Such wishes are expressed particularly in remote towns and villages," he said.
