President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a decree assigning the honorary name «Gvardeiskaya» (Guards) to the 999th airbase in Kant town (Kyrgyzstan) — the first Russian military facility created on the territory of a foreign state after the collapse of the USSR. The corresponding document was published on the portal of official legal information.
It is noted that the «Guards» title was awarded for mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage shown by brigade personnel in combat operations on protection of the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts.
The decree comes into force from the date of signing.
The 999th airbase was opened on October 23, 2003. It became the first Russian military facility created on the territory of a foreign state after the collapse of the USSR. Aviation of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic is also stationed at the airfield.
The base is the aviation component of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces (CRDF) of the Central Asian collective security region of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), of which Russia and Kyrgyzstan are members. The decision to establish the base was made by the CSTO Collective Security Council on May 25, 2001.
