Segodnya said it was hard to assess the deal since official figures on Kazakhstan's debt have not been released. But if unofficial figures of $500 million are correct, it said, the deal would be unlikely to fully compensate Russia for losing Baikonur when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991.
According to Segodnya, Boris Yeltsin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazerbayev will sign the debt-for-rent agreement next month.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
