Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan,officially theKyrgyz Republic,is alandlocked countryinCentral Asia, lying in theTian ShanandPamirmountain ranges.Bishkekis thecapitalandlargest city. Kyrgyzstan is bordered byKazakhstanto thenorth,Uzbekistanto thewest,Tajikistanto thesouth, andChinato theeast and southeast.EthnicKyrgyzmake up the majority of the country's over 7 million people, followed by significant minorities ofUzbeksandRussians.
Kyrgyzstan's history spans a variety of cultures and empires. Although geographically isolated by its highly mountainous terrain, Kyrgyzstan has been at the crossroads of several great civilizations as part of theSilk Roadalong with other commercial routes. Inhabited by a succession of tribes and clans, Kyrgyzstan has periodically fallen under larger domination, for example theTurkicnomads, who trace their ancestry to many Turkic states. It was first established as theYenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate. Later, in the 13th century, Kyrgyzstan was conquered by theMongol Empireand under severalMongol dynasties; it regained independence, but was later invaded by theDzungar Khanate. After thefall of Dzhungars, Kyrgyz and Kipchaks were an integral part ofKokand Khanate. In 1876, Kyrgyzstan became part of theRussian Empire, and in 1936, theKirghiz Soviet Socialist Republicwas formed to become a constituent republic of theSoviet Union. FollowingMikhail Gorbachev's democratic reforms in the USSR, in 1990 pro-independence candidateAskar Akayevwas elected president. On 31 August 1991, Kyrgyzstan declared independence from theUSSRand a democratic government was established. Kyrgyzstan attained sovereignty as a nation state after thebreakup of the Soviet Unionin 1991.
After independence, Kyrgyzstan was officially aunitarypresidential republic. After theTulip Revolutionit became aunitary parliamentary republic; however, it gradually developed an executive president and was governed as asemi-presidential republicbefore reverting to a presidential system in 2021. Throughout its existence, the country has continued to endure ethnic conflicts,revolts,economic troubles,transitional governmentsand political conflict.
Kyrgyzstan is a member of theCommonwealth of Independent States, theEurasian Economic Union, theCollective Security Treaty Organization, theShanghai Cooperation Organisation, theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation, theOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, theOrganisation of Turkic States, theTürksoycommunity and theUnited Nations. It is adeveloping countryranked 117th in theHuman Development Index, and is the second poorest country in Central Asia after neighbouring Tajikistan. The country'stransitional economyis heavily dependent on deposits ofgold,coalanduranium.
Kyrgyzis derived from the Turkic word for "We are forty", believed to refer to the forty clans ofManas, a legendary hero who united forty regional clans. ThePersiansuffix-stanmeans "place of".
The 40-ray sun on theflag of Kyrgyzstanis a reference to those same forty tribes and the graphical element in the sun's center depicts the wooden crown, called tunduk, of ayurt—a portable dwelling traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia.
The country's official name isKyrgyz Republic, used in international arenas and foreign relations.In the English-speaking world, the spellingKyrgyzstanis commonly used, while its former nameKirghiziais rarely used.
TheKyrgyzstate reached its greatest expansion after defeating theUyghur Khaganatein 840 AD.From the tenth century, the Kyrgyz migrated as far as theTian Shanrange and maintained their dominance over this territory for about 200 years.
There is a storytelling tradition of theEpic of Manas, which involves a warrior who unified all of the scattered tribes into a single nation in the 9th century. The trilogy, an element of theUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, expresses the memory of thenomadic peoples.
In the 12th century, the Kyrgyz dominion had shrunk to theAltayRange andSayan Mountainsas a result of theMongol expansion. With the rise of theMongol Empirein the thirteenth century, the Kyrgyz migrated south. The Kyrgyz peacefully became a part of the Mongol Empire in 1207.
Issyk Kul Lakewas a stopover on theSilk Road, a land route for traders, merchants, and other travelers from the Far East to Europe.
Kyrgyz tribes were overrun in the 17th century by the Mongols, in the mid-18th century by theManchu-ledQing dynastyof China, and in the early 19th century by the UzbekKhanate of Kokand.In 1842, the Kyrgyz tribes broke away from Kokand and united into theKara-Kyrgyz Khanate[ky], led byOrmon Khan. Following Ormon's death in 1854, the khanate disintegrated.
In the late nineteenth century, the eastern part of what is today Kyrgyzstan, mainly theIssyk-Kul Region, was ceded to theRussian EmpirebyQing Chinathrough theTreaty of Tarbagatai.The territory, then known in Russian as "Kirghizia", was formally incorporated into the Empire in 1876. The Russian takeover was met with numerous revolts, and many of the Kyrgyz opted to relocate to thePamir MountainsandAfghanistan.
In addition, the suppression of the1916 rebellionagainst Russian rule in Central Asia caused many Kyrgyz later to migrate to China.Since many ethnic groups in the region were, and still are, split between neighboring states at a time when borders were more porous and less regulated, it was common to move back and forth over the mountains, depending on where life was perceived as better; this might mean better rains for pasture or better government during oppression.
Soviet power was initially established in the region in 1919, and theKara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblastwas created within theRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic(SFSR). The phrase Kara-Kirghiz was used until the mid-1920s by the Russians to distinguish them from theKazakhs, who were also referred to as Kirghiz. On 5 December 1936, theKirghiz Soviet Socialist Republicwas established as a constituentUnion Republicof theSoviet Union.
After theRussian Civil War, the period of theNew Economic Policy(NEP), began, which lasted roughly to 1928.TheBolsheviksmade an effort to establish a standardized tax system, with higher taxes for nomads to discourage the wandering livelihood and they divided the Central Asia region into five nation-states.Kyrgyzstan developed considerably in cultural, educational, and social life, literacy was greatly improved. Economic and social development also was notable.UnderStalina great focus was put on Kyrgyznational identity. The Soviet state was fighting tribalism: its social organization based on patrilineal kinship contradicted the concept of the modern nation state.In a region that did not previously know national institutions or consciousness, the process of nation-building was, from the indigenous perspective, a difficult and ambivalent one.
By the end of the 1920s, the Soviet Union developed a series offive-year plans, centered aroundindustrializationand thecollectivization of agriculture, including the creation of huge "kolkhoz"collective farmingsystems, needed to feed the new workers in the industries.Because of the plan's reliance on rapidity, major economic and cultural changes had to occur, which led to conflicts. In Kyrgyzstan, Russian settlers acquired the best pasture land, creating much hardship for most of its original inhabitants,Kazakh,KyrgyzandTurkmennomads, who were also forced to settle down on soil that hadn't enough agricultural potential.The changes caused unrest, and between 1928 and 1932, nomads and peasants made it clear through methods like passive resistance that they did not agree with these policies, in the Kirgiziya area also guerrilla opposition occurred.The region suffered relatively more deaths from collectivization than any other.
The early years ofglasnost, in the late 1980s, had little effect on the political climate in Kyrgyzstan. However, the Republic's press was permitted to adopt a more liberal stance and to establish a new publication,Literaturny Kirghizstan, by the Union of Writers. Unofficial political groups were forbidden, but several groups that emerged in 1989 to deal with the acute housing crisis were permitted to function.
According to the last Soviet census in 1989, ethnic Kyrgyz made up only 22% of the residents of the northern city ofFrunze(now Bishkek), while more than 60% were Russians, Ukrainians, and people from otherSlavicnations. Nearly 10% of the capital's population were Jewish (a rather unique fact, for almost any place in the Soviet Union, except theJewish Autonomous Oblast).
In June 1990, ethnic tensions betweenUzbeksand Kyrgyz surfaced in theOsh Region(southern Kyrgyzstan), where Uzbeks form a minority of the population.The tensions between Kyrgyzs and Uzbeks in Osis led to 186 deaths.Attempts to appropriate Uzbekcollective farmsfor housing development triggered theOsh Riots. A state of emergency and curfew were introducedandAskar Akayev, the youngest of five sons born into a family of collective farm workers (in northern Kyrgyzstan), was elected president in October of that same year. By then, theKyrgyzstan Democratic Movement(KDM) had developed into a significant political force with support in Parliament. On 15 December 1990, the Supreme Soviet voted to change the republic's name to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. The following January, Akayev introduced new government structures and appointed a new cabinet composed mainly of younger, reform-oriented politicians. In February 1991, the name of the capital, Frunze, was changed back to its pre-revolutionary name of Bishkek.
Despite these political moves toward independence, economic realities seemed to work against secession from the Soviet Union. In a referendum on the preservation of the Soviet Union in March 1991, 88.7%of the voters approved the proposal to retain the Soviet Union as a "renewed federation". Nevertheless, secessionist forces pushed Kyrgyzstan's independence through in August of that same year.
On 19 August 1991, when theState Emergency Committeeassumed power in Moscow, there was an attempt to depose Akayev in Kyrgyzstan. After the coup collapsed the following week, Akayev and Vice PresidentGerman Kuznetsovannounced their resignations from theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union(CPSU), and the entire bureau and secretariat resigned. This was followed by the Supreme Soviet vote declaring independence from the Soviet Union on 31 August 1991 as theRepublic of Kyrgyzstan.
According to a 2013Galluppoll, 62% ofKyrgyz peoplesay that the collapse of theSoviet Unionharmed their country, while only 16% said that the collapse benefitted it.
In October 1991, Akayev ran unopposed and was elected president of the new independent republic by direct ballot, receiving 95 percent of the votes cast. Together with representatives of seven other Republics that same month, he signed theTreaty of the Economic Community. The new leaders of three out of four Soviet Union's founding republics, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, on 8 December 1991 signed theBelavezha Accords, denouncing theUnion Treaty of 1922, declaring that the Union would cease to exist and proclaimed theCommonwealth of Independent States(CIS) in its place.
On 21 December 1991, Kyrgyzstan agreed with the other four Central Asian Republics,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan,Kazakhstanto theAlma-Ata Protocols, formally entering the Commonwealth withArmenia,Azerbaijan,Kazakhstan,Moldova, andUkraine. Finally, Kyrgyzstan gained full independence on 25 December 1991. The following day, on 26 December 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. In 1992, Kyrgyzstan joined theUnited Nationsand theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe(OSCE). On 5 May 1993, the official name changed from theRepublic of Kyrgyzstanto theKyrgyz Republicfollowing the adoption of a newconstitution.
As of today, Kyrgyzstan celebrates its Independence Day annually on August 31, the anniversary of its declaration of independence in 1991. Since independence, Kyrgyzstan has made developments such as creating genuinely free news media and fostering an active political opposition.
In 2005, an uprising known as the "Tulip Revolution", took place after the parliamentary elections in March 2005, forcing PresidentAskar Akayev's resignation on 4 April 2005. Opposition leaders formed a coalition, and a new government was established under PresidentKurmanbek Bakiyevand Prime MinisterFelix Kulov. The nation's capital was looted during the protests.
Political stability appeared elusive, as various groups and factions allegedly linked toorganized crimejockeyed for power. Three of the 75 members of Parliament elected in March 2005 were assassinated, and another member was assassinated on 10 May 2006 shortly after winning his murdered brother's seat in a by-election. All four were reputed to have been directly involved in major illegal business ventures.
On 6 April 2010,civil unrest broke outin the town ofTalasafter a demonstration against government corruption and increased living expenses. The protests became violent, spreading to Bishkek by the following day. Protesters attacked President Bakiyev's offices, as well as state-run radio and television stations. There were conflicting reports that Interior MinisterMoldomusa Kongatiyevhad been beaten. On 7 April 2010, President Bakiyev imposed a state of emergency. Police and special services arrested many opposition leaders. In response, protesters took control of the internal security headquarters (formerKGBheadquarters) and a state television channel in the capital, Bishkek.Reports by Kyrgyzstan government officials indicated that at least 75 people were killed and 458 hospitalized in bloody clashes with police in the capital.Reports say that at least 80 people died as a result of clashes with police.
A transition government had been established, led by former foreign ministerRoza Otunbayeva(Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan), that by 8 April 2010 had taken control ofstate mediaand government facilities in the capital, but Bakiyev had not resigned from office.
President Bakiyev returned to his home inJalal-Abadand stated his terms of resignation at a press conference on 13 April 2010.On 15 April 2010, Bakiyev left the country and flew to neighboringKazakhstan, along with his wife and two children. The country's provisional leaders announced that Bakiyev signed a formal letter of resignation prior to his departure.
Prime MinisterDaniar Usenovaccused Russia of supporting the protests; this accusation was denied by Russian Prime Minister,Vladimir Putin. Opposition members also called for the closing of the US-controlledManas Air Base.Russia's PresidentDmitry Medvedevordered measures to ensure the safety of Russian nationals and tighten security around Russian sites in Kyrgyzstan to protect them against possible attacks.
The2010 South Kyrgyzstan ethnic clashesoccurred between the two main ethnic groups—the Uzbeks and Kyrgyz—inOsh, the second-largest city in the country, on 11 June 2010. The clashes incited fears that the country could be heading towards a civil war.
Interim leader Otunbayeva sent a letter to the Russian president, Dimitry Medvedev, asking him to send Russian troops to help the country control the situation. Medvedev's Press Attaché,Natalya Timakova, said in a reply to the letter, "It is an internal conflict and for now Russia does not see the conditions for taking part in its resolution". The clashes caused a shortage of food and other essential commodities with more than 200 killed and 1,685 people hurt, as of 12 June 2010. The Russian government, however, said it would be sending humanitarian aid to the troubled nation.
According to local sources, there was a clash between two local gangs and it did not take long for the violence to spread to the rest of the city. There were also reports that the armed forces supported ethnic Kyrgyz gangs entering the city, but the government denied the allegations.
The riots spread to neighboring areas, and the government declared a state of emergency in the entire southern Jalal-Abad region. To control the situation, the interim government gave special shoot-to-kill powers to the security forces. The Russian government decided to send a battalion to the country to protect Russian facilities.
Otunbayeva accused the family of Bakiyev of "instigating the riots".AFP reported "a veil of smoke covering the whole city". Authorities in neighboringUzbekistansaid at least 30,000 Uzbeks had crossed the border to escape the riots.Osh became relatively calm on 14 June 2010, but Jalal-Abad witnessed sporadic incidents of arson. The entire region was still under a state of emergency as Uzbeks were reluctant to leave their houses for fear of attacks by the mobs. TheUnited Nationsdecided to send an envoy to assess the situation.
Temir Sariyev, deputy chief of the interim government, said there were local clashes and that it was not possible [for the government] to fully control the situation. He added that there were not sufficient security forces to contain the violence. Media agencies reported on 14 June 2010 that the Russian government was considering a request by the Kyrgyz government. An emergency meeting of theCollective Security Treaty Organisation(CSTO) was held on the same day (14 June) to discuss the role it could play in helping to end the violence.
Ethnic violence waned, according to the Kyrgyz government, by 15 June 2010 and Kyrgyz president Roza Otunbayeva held a news conference that day and declared that there was no need for Russia to send in troops to quell the violence. There were at least 170 people left dead by 15 June 2010 but Pascale Meige Wagner of theInternational Committee of the Red Crosssaid the [official] death toll was an underestimate. The UN High Commissioner told reporters inGenevathat evidence suggested that the violence seemed to have been staged up.
Ethnic Uzbeks threatened to blow up an oil depot in Osh if they failed to get guarantees of protection. The United Nations said it believed that the attacks were "orchestrated, targeted and well-planned". Kyrgyz officials told the media that a person suspected to be behind the violence in Jalal-Abad had been detained.
On 2 August 2010, a Kyrgyz government commission began investigating the causes of the clashes. Members of the National Commission, led by former parliament speaker Abdygany Erkebaev, met with people from the predominantly ethnic Uzbek villages of Mady, Shark, and Kyzyl-Kyshtak in the Kara-Suu district of Osh Oblast. This National Commission, including representatives of many ethnic groups, was established by a presidential decree.
President Roza Otunbayeva also said in August 2010 that an international commission would be formed to investigate the clashes.The international commission conducted an extensive investigation and prepared a report—The Independent international commission of inquiry into the events in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 (KIC).It stated that "The Provisional Government, which had assumed power two months before the events, either failed to recognize or underestimated the deterioration in inter-ethnic relations in southern Kyrgyzstan". The KIC concluded that the "Provisional Government had the responsibility to ensure that the security forces were adequately trained and appropriately equipped to deal with situations of civil unrest" but were unable to take necessary measures.
In late April 2021, aconflict over waterescalated into one of the most seriousborder clashesbetween Kyrgyzstan andTajikistansince independence in 1991.
In September 2022, armed clashes, including the use of artillery, erupted along much of the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country inCentral Asia, borderingKazakhstan,China,TajikistanandUzbekistan. It lies between latitudes39°and44° N, and longitudes69°and81° E. It is farther from the sea than any other individual country, and all its rivers flow intoclosed drainage systems which do not reach the sea. The mountainous region of theTian Shancovers over 80% of the country (Kyrgyzstan is occasionally referred to as "the Switzerland of Central Asia", as a result),with the remainder made up of valleys and basins.
Issyk-Kul Lake, or Ysyk-Köl inKyrgyz, in the north-eastern Tian Shan is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and the second largest mountain lake in the world afterTiticaca. The lowest point is inKara-Daryya(Karadar'ya) at 132 meters and the highest peaks are in the Kakshaal-Too range, forming the Chinese border. PeakJengish Chokusu, at 7,439 m (24,406 ft), is the highest point and is considered by geologists to be the northernmost peak over 7,000 m (22,966 ft) in the world. Heavy snowfall in winter leads to spring floods which often cause serious damage downstream. The runoff from the mountains is also used forhydro-electricity.
Kyrgyzstan has significant deposits of metals includinggoldandrare-earth metals. Due to the country's predominantly mountainous terrain, less than 8% of the land is cultivated, and this is concentrated in the northern lowlands and the fringes of theFergana Valley.
Bishkekin the north is the capital and largest city, with 937,400 inhabitants (as of 2015). The second city is the ancient town ofOsh, located in the Fergana Valley near the border with Uzbekistan. The principal river is theKara Darya, which flows west through the Fergana Valley into Uzbekistan. Across the border in Uzbekistan it meets another major Kyrgyz river, theNaryn.
The confluence forms theSyr Darya, which originally flowed into theAral Sea. As of 2010, it no longer reaches the sea, as its water is withdrawn upstream to irrigate cotton fields inTajikistan,Uzbekistan, and southernKazakhstan. TheChu Riveralso briefly flows through Kyrgyzstan before entering Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan contains seven terrestrial ecosystems:Tian Shan montane conifer forests,Alai-Western Tian Shan steppe,Gissaro-Alai open woodlands,Tian Shan foothill arid steppe,Pamir alpine desert and tundra,Tian Shan montane steppe and meadows, andCentral Asian northern desert.It had a 2019Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 8.86/10, ranking it 13th globally out of 172 countries.
The climate varies regionally. The low-lyingFergana Valleyin the southwest issubtropicaland extremely hot insummer, with temperatures reaching 40 °C (104 °F). The northernfoothillsaretemperateand theTian Shanvaries from drycontinentaltopolar climate, depending on elevation. In the coldest areas, winter temperatures drop below freezing for approximately 40 days, and even somedesertareas experience constant snowfall during this period. In the lowlands the temperature ranges from around −6 °C (21 °F) in January to 24 °C (75 °F) in July.
There is oneexclave, the tiny village ofBarak(population 627), in theFergana Valley. The village is surrounded byUzbekterritory. It is located on the road fromOsh(Kyrgyzstan) to Khodjaabad (Uzbekistan) about 4 kilometres (2 miles) north-west from theKyrgyz–Uzbek borderin the direction ofAndijan.Barak is administratively part ofKara-Suu Districtin Kyrgyzstan'sOsh Region.
There are four Uzbekenclaveswithin Kyrgyzstan. Two of them are the towns ofSokh, with an area of 325 km(125 sq mi) and a population of 42,800 in 1993, although some estimates go as high as 70,000 (99% areTajiks, the remainderUzbeks); andShakhimardan(also known as Shahimardan, Shohimardon, or Shah-i-Mardan), with an area of 90 km(35 sq mi) and a population of 5,100 in 1993; 91% are Uzbeks, and the remaining 9% areKyrgyz; the other two are the tiny territories of Chong-Kara (roughly 3 km (2 mi) long by 1 km (0.6 mi) wide) and Jangy-ayyl (a dot of land barely 2–3 km (1–2 mi) across). Chong-Kara is on theSokh river, between the Uzbek border and the Sokh enclave. Jangy-ayyl is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) east ofBatken, in a northward projection of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border nearKhalmion.
There are also two enclaves belonging toTajikistanon theKyrgyz-Tajik border:Vorukh, andLolazor. Vorukh has an area between 95–130 km(37–50 sq mi), and a population estimated between 23,000 and 29,000, 95% Tajiks and 5% Kyrgyz. It is distributed among 17 villages and is located around 45 kilometres (28 mi) south ofIsfaraon the right bank of the riverKaravshin. Lolazor (Western Qalacha or Kayragach) is a small settlement near the Kyrgyz railway station ofKairagach.
The1993 constitutiondefines the form of government as a democraticunicameralrepublic. The executive branch includes a president and prime minister. The parliament currently is unicameral. The judicial branch comprises a supreme court, local courts and a chief prosecutor.
In March 2002, in the southern district ofAksy, five people protesting thearbitrary arrestof an opposition politician were shot dead by police, sparking nationwide protests. PresidentAskar Akayevinitiated a constitutional reform process which initially included the participation of a broad range of government, civil and social representatives in an open dialogue, leading to a February 2003 referendum marred by voting irregularities.
The amendments to the constitution approved by the referendum resulted in stronger control by the president and weakened the parliament and the Constitutional Court. Parliamentary elections for a new, 75-seat unicameral legislature were held on 27 February and 13 March 2005, but were widely viewed as corrupt. The subsequent protests led to a bloodlesscoupon 24 March 2005, after which Akayev fled the country with his family and was replaced by acting presidentKurmanbek Bakiyev.
On 10 July 2005, acting president Bakiyev won thepresidential electionin a landslide, with 88.9% of the vote, and was inaugurated on 14 August. However, initial public support for the new administration substantially declined in subsequent months as a result of its apparent inability to solve the corruption problems that had plagued the country since its independence from the Soviet Union, along with the murders of several members of parliament. Large-scale protests against president Bakiyev took place in Bishkek in April and November 2006, with opposition leaders accusing the president of failing to live up to his election promises to reform the country's constitution and transfer many of his presidential powers to parliament.
Kyrgyzstan is also a member of theOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE), a league of 57 participating states committed to peace, transparency, and the protection of human rights in Eurasia. As an OSCE participating state, Kyrgyzstan's international commitments are subject to monitoring under the mandate of theU.S. Helsinki Commission.
In December 2008, the state-owned broadcastKTRKannounced that it would require prior submission ofRadio Free Europe/Radio Libertyprogrammes, which KTRK are required to retransmit according to a 2005 agreement.KTRK had stopped retransmitting RFE/RL programming in October 2008, a week after it failed to broadcast an RFE/RL programme calledInconvenient Questionswhich covered the October elections, claiming to have lost the missing material. President Bakiyev had criticised this programme in September 2008, while KTRK told RFE/RL that its programming was too negative.Reporters Without Borders, which ranks Kyrgyzstan 111th out of 173 countries on itsPress Freedom Index, strongly criticised the decision.
On 3 February 2009, President Bakiyev announced the imminent closure of theManas Air Base, the only US military base remaining in Central Asia.The closure was approved by Parliament on 19 February 2009 by a vote of 78–1 for the government-backed bill.However, after much behind-the-scenes negotiation between Kyrgyz, Russian and American diplomats, the decision was reversed in June 2009. The Americans were allowed to remain under a new contract, whereby rent would increase from $17.4 million to $60 million annually.The US military fully withdrew from Manas Air Base in 2014.
Kyrgyzstan is among the fifty countries in the world with the highest perceived level of corruption: the 2016Corruption Perception Indexfor Kyrgyzstan is 28 on a scale of 0 (most corrupt) to 100 (least corrupt).
In 2010, another revolution erupted in the country (see:April uprising). President Bakiyev, together with his relatives, including his sonMaksimand brotherJanish—were forced to flee to Kazakhstan and then sought asylum in Belarus.Roza Otunbayeva, who was appointed interim president, announced that she did not intend to run for thePresidential elections in 2011. The election was held in November and won by Prime MinisterAlmazbek Atambayev, leader of theSocial Democratic Party, and Atambayev was sworn in as president on 1 December 2011.Omurbek Babanovwas appointed prime minister on the same day and was confirmed on 23 December 2011.
In 2015, Kyrgyzstan became a full-fledged member of theEurasian Economic Union(EES) after it formally abolished customs controls along its border with Kazakhstan, other members are the former Soviet republics Russia, Kazakhstan,Belarus, andArmenia.
In October 2017,Sooronbay Jeenbekov, a former prime minister backed by incumbent Almazbek Atambayev, was elected as the new President of Kyrgyzstan.In foreign policy he saw theKremlinas the country's "main strategic partner" andChinaas an "important strategic and trade partner", but he intended to seek more collaborative bilateral ties with European partners.On 7 August 2019, the Special Forces of Kyrgyzstan launched an operation against the residence of former President Almazbek Atambayev, supposedly based on charges of corruption made against him.In a meeting of theSecurity Council, President Jeenbekov accused Atambayev of violating the constitution.In October 2020, President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned after protests caused by irregularities in parliamentaryelectionson 4 October 2020.
In January 2021,Sadyr Japarovwas elected as the new president after winning the presidentialelectionby a landslide.
In April 2021, the majority of voters approved in the constitutionalreferenduma new constitution that will give new powers to the president, significantly strengthening the power of the presidency.
Kyrgyzstan is divided into sevenregions(Kyrgyz:облустар). The regions are subdivided into 44districts(Kyrgyz:аймактар,aymaqtar;). The districts are further subdivided into rural districts at the lowest level of administration, which include all rural settlements (aýyl ökmötü) and villages without an associated municipal government.
The cities ofBishkekandOshhave status "state importance" and do not belong to any region.
Each region is headed by an akim (regional governor) appointed by the president. District akims are appointed by regional akims.
The regions, and independent cities, are as follows, with subdivisions:
The armed forces of Kyrgyzstan were formed after thecollapse of the Soviet Unionand consist of theLand Forces,Air Forces,internal troops,National Guard, and theborder guard. The military works with theUS Armed Forces, which leased a facility named theTransit Center at Manasat Manas International Airport near Bishkek until June 2014.In recent years, the armed forces have begun developing better relations with Russia including signing modernization deals worth $1.1bn and participating in more exercises with Russian troops.The Agency of National Security works with the military and serves similar purposes to its Soviet predecessor, theKGB. It oversees an elite counterterrorism special forces unit known as "Alfa", the same name used by other former Soviet countries, including Russia andUzbekistan. The police are commanded by the Ministry of the Interior Affairs, along with the border guard.
Kyrgyzstan is classified as a "hybrid regime" in theDemocracy Index, ranking 107th out of 167 for 2020.Kyrgyzstan was also ranked "not free" in the 2021Freedom in the Worldreport with a score of 28/100. In 2020, it was ranked "partly free" with a score of 39/100.
After the installment of a more democratic government, many human rights violations still take place. In a move that alarmed human-rights groups, dozens of prominent Uzbek religious and community leaders were arrested by security forces following the2010 South Kyrgyzstan riots, including journalist and human-rights activistAzimzhan Askarov.A law banning women under the age of 23 from traveling abroad without a parent or guardian, with the purpose of "increased morality and preservation of the gene pool" passed in the Kyrgyz parliament in June 2013.American diplomats expressed concern in October 2014 when Kyrgyzstan lawmakers passed a law that imposes jail terms ongay-rights activistsand others, including journalists, who create "a positive attitude toward non-traditional sexual relations."
Kyrgyzstani activist and journalist Azimzhan Askarov was sentenced to life in prison in 2010.On 24 January 2017, a Kyrgyz court has reinstated a sentence of life imprisonment for Askarov.
In February 2024, the independent investigative media organizationKloopwas ordered shut down by the Kyrgyz courts. This move drew criticism within the country and abroad.
TheNational Bank of the Kyrgyz Republicserves as thecentral bankof Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan was the ninth poorest country in the formerSoviet Union, and is today the second poorest country inCentral AsiaafterTajikistan. 22.4% of the country's population lives below the poverty line.
Despite the backing of major Western lenders, including theInternational Monetary Fund(IMF), theWorld Bankand theAsian Development Bank, Kyrgyzstan has had economic difficulties following independence. Initially, these were a result of the breakup of the Soviet trade bloc and resulting loss of markets, which impeded the republic's transition to a demand economy.
The government has reduced expenditures, ended most price subsidies and introduced avalue-added tax. Overall, the government appears committed to the transition to amarket economy. Through economic stabilization and reform, the government seeks to establish a pattern of long-term consistent growth. Reforms led to Kyrgyzstan's accession to theWorld Trade Organization(WTO) on 20 December 1998.
The Kyrgyz economy was severely affected by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resulting loss of its vast market. In 1990, some 98% of Kyrgyz exports went to other parts of the Soviet Union. Thus, the nation's economic performance in the early 1990s was worse than any other former Soviet republic except war-tornArmenia,AzerbaijanandTajikistan, as factories and state farms collapsed with the disappearance of their traditional markets in the former Soviet Union. While economic performance has improved considerably in the last few years, and particularly since 1998, difficulties remain in securing adequatefiscalrevenues and providing an adequatesocial safety net.Remittancesof around 800,000 Kyrgyz migrants working in Russia contribute to the economy however in recent years, remittances have decreased.
Agricultureis an important sector of the economy in Kyrgyzstan (seeagriculture in Kyrgyzstan). By the early 1990s, the private agricultural sector provided between one-third and one-half of some harvests. In 2002, agriculture accounted for 35.6% of GDP and about half of employment. Kyrgyzstan's terrain is mountainous, which accommodateslivestockraising, the largest agricultural activity, so the resultingwool,meatanddairy productsare major commodities. Main crops includewheat,sugar beets,potatoes,cotton,tobacco,vegetables, andfruit. As the prices of importedagrichemicalsandpetroleumare so high, much farming is being done by hand and by horse, as it was generations ago. Agricultural processing is a key component of the industrial economy as well as one of the most attractive sectors for foreign investment.
Kyrgyzstan is rich in mineral resources but has negligiblepetroleumandnatural gasreserves; it imports petroleum and gas. Among its mineral reserves are substantial deposits ofcoal,gold,uranium,antimony, and other valuable metals.Metallurgyis an important industry, and the government hopes to attract foreign investment in this field. The government has actively encouraged foreign involvement in extracting and processing gold from theKumtor Gold Mineand other regions. The country's plentiful water resources and mountainous terrain enable it to produce and export large quantities ofhydroelectric energy.
The principal exports are nonferrous metals and minerals, woollen goods and other agricultural products, electric energy and certain engineering goods. Imports include petroleum and natural gas, ferrous metals, chemicals, most machinery, wood and paper products, some foods and some construction materials. Its leading trade partners include Germany, Russia, China,Kazakhstan, andUzbekistan. After Beijing launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, China has expanded its economic presence and initiated a number of sizable infrastructure projects in Kyrgyzstan.
In regards to telecommunication infrastructure, Kyrgyz Republic ranks last in Central Asia in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index (NRI)—an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies. Kyrgyz Republic ranked number 118 overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, unchanged from 2013 (seeNetworked Readiness Index).
Kyrgyzstan is ranked 78th among countries for economic freedom by the Heritage Institute.
The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a significant negative impact on the Kyrgyz economy that is reliant on services, remittances and natural resources. As a result, in order to mitigate the economic shock and preserve much of the development progress achieved in recent years the World Bank will provide support by financing several projects in the country.
One of the most popular tourist destination points in Kyrgyzstan is the lakeIssyk-Kul. Numerous hotels, resorts and boarding houses are located along its northern shore. The most popular beach zones are in the city ofCholpon-Ataand the settlements nearby, such as Kara-Oi (Dolinka), Bosteri and Korumdy. The number of tourists visiting the lake was more than a million a year in 2006 and 2007. However, due to the economic and political instability in the region, the number has declined in recent years.
The headquarters of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences is located in Bishkek, where several research institutes are located. Kyrgyz researchers are developing useful technologies based on natural products, such as heavy metal remediation for purifying waste water.Kyrgyzstan was ranked 99th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2024.
Kyrgyzstan's population is estimated at 6,586,600 in August 2020.Of those, 34.4% are under the age of 15 and 6.2% are over 65. The country isrural: only about one-third of the population live in urban areas. The averagepopulation densityis 25 people per km.
In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Kyrgyzstanranks 36th out of 127 countries with sufficient data:
The nation's largestethnic groupare theKyrgyz, aTurkicpeople, who comprise 77.8% of the population. Other ethnic groups include theRussians(3.8%) concentrated in the north and theUzbeks(14.2%) living in the south. Small but noticeable minorities include theDungans(1.0%),Tajiks(0.9%),Uyghurs(0.5%),Kazakhs(0.4%), and other smaller ethnic minorities.The country has over 80 ethnic groups.
The Kyrgyz have historically been semi-nomadicherders, living in round tents calledyurtsand tendingsheep,horsesandyaks. This nomadic tradition continues to function seasonally (seetranshumance) as herding families return to the high mountain pasture (orjailoo) in the summer. The sedentary Uzbeks and Tajiks traditionally have farmed lower-lying irrigated land in theFergana valley.
Kyrgyzstan has undergone a pronounced change in its ethnic composition since independence.The percentage of ethnic Kyrgyz has increased from around 50% in 1979 to over 70% in 2013, while the percentage of ethnic groups, such as Russians, Ukrainians, Germans and Tatars dropped from 35% to about 7%.Since 1991, a large number ofGermans, who in 1989 numbered 101,000 persons, have emigrated to Germany.
Kyrgyzis the state language of Kyrgyzstan.Russianis additionally an official language. 
Kyrgyzstan is one of five former Soviet republics to have Russian as ade jureofficial language, along with Russia,Belarus,Kazakhstan, andTajikistan.After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyz was adopted as the state language of Kyrgyzstan in 1991. Kyrgyzstan adopted Russian as an official language in 2000.The languages have different legal statuses.
Kyrgyz is aTurkiclanguage of theKipchakbranch, closely related toKazakh,Karakalpak, andNogay Tatar. It was written in theArabic alphabetuntil the twentieth century. TheLatin scriptwas introduced and adopted on Stalin's orders in 1928, and was subsequently replaced byCyrillic scriptin 1941.A reformed Perso-Arabic alphabet, created by the Kyrgyz intellectual and scientistKasym Tynystanovis the official script of the Kyrgyz language in the People's Republic of China.As a result of the pending language reform in neighboring Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan will be the only independentTurkic-speaking countryin a few years that exclusively uses the Cyrillic alphabet.In April 2023, Russia suspended dairy exports to Kyrgyzstan after the chairman of Kyrgyzstan's National Commission for the State Language and Language Policies, Kanybek Osmonaliev, proposed to change the official script from Cyrillic to Latin to bring the country in line with other Turkic-speaking nations. Osmonaliev was reprimanded by PresidentSadyr Japarovwho then clarified that Kyrgyzstan had no plans to replace the Cyrillic alphabet.
Russian TV media enjoy enormous popularity in Kyrgyzstan, especially in the deeplyRussifiedcity of Bishkekand theChüy Region, despite the percentage of Russians today being a fraction of that in 1989. According toWorld Values Surveyin 2020, Russian was the language spoken at home for 55.6% of the population of Bishkek, and Kyrgyz was the second with 43.6%. However, the countrywide figure for the Russian was only 16.3%, whereas Kyrgyz was the home language of 70.9%.Uzbek languagewas the third most spoken home language with 10.7% according to the same survey.Russian media outlets have an enormous influence on public opinion in Kyrgyzstan, especially in areas such ashuman rightsand international political developments.
Many business and political affairs are carried out in Russian. Until recently, Kyrgyz remained a language spoken at home and was rarely used during meetings or other events. However, most parliamentary meetings today are conducted in Kyrgyz, with simultaneous interpretation available for those not speaking Kyrgyz. According to anRFE/RLarticle from 2014, despite the attempts to raise the status of Kyrgyz, thousands of Kyrgyz are russifying their names every year (around 40,000), mostly for career prospects, and to remove themselves from the Russian blacklists (people who are to be deported upon entrance) by registering different names. There are also many Russian-language medium schools that are supported from the Russian foundations via the embassy of Russia in Bishkek which are better funded than the Kyrgyz language medium schools. Due to this, many ethnic Kyrgyz go to Russian language medium schools. Many high school students change their surnames annually; for example, 800 such changes were recorded in high school students in the region of Naryn.
Islamis the dominant religion of Kyrgyzstan and most Kyrgyz. The CIA World Factbook estimates that as of 2017, 90% of the population is Muslim, with the majority beingSunni; 7% are Christian, including 3%Russian Orthodoxy, and the remainder are other religions.A 2009Pew Research Centerreport indicated 86.3% of Kyrgyzstan's population adhering to Islam.The great majority of Muslims are Sunni, adhering to theHanafi schoolof thought,although a 2012 Pew survey report showed that only 23% of respondents to a questionnaire chose to identify themselves as Sunni, with 64% volunteering that they were "just a Muslim".There are a fewAhmadiyyaMuslims, though unrecognized by the country.Later figures show a rise in the number of Muslims in the country.
During Soviet times,state atheismwas encouraged. Today, however, Kyrgyzstan is asecular state, although Islam has exerted a growing influence in politics.For instance, there has been an attempt to arrange for officials to travel onhajj(the pilgrimage toMecca) under a tax-free arrangement.
WhileIslam in Kyrgyzstanis more of a cultural background than a devout daily practice for many, public figures have expressed support for restoring religious values. For example,human rightsombudsmanTursunbay Bakir-Ulu noted, "In this era of independence, it is not surprising that there has been a return to spiritual roots not only in Kyrgyzstan, but also in other post-communist republics. It would be immoral to develop a market-based society without an ethical dimension."
Additionally,Bermet Akayeva, the daughter ofAskar Akayev, the former President of Kyrgyzstan, stated during a July 2007 interview that Islam is increasingly taking root across the nation.She emphasized that manymosqueshave recently been built and that the Kyrgyz are increasingly devoting themselves to Islam, which she noted was "not a bad thing in itself. It keeps our society more moral, cleaner."There is a contemporarySufiorder present which adheres to a somewhat different form of Islam than the orthodox Islam.
The other faiths practiced in Kyrgyzstan includeRussian OrthodoxandUkrainian Orthodoxversions ofChristianity, practiced primarily byRussiansandUkrainiansrespectively. A community of 5,000 to 10,000 Jehovah's Witnesses gather in both Kyrgyz and Russian-speaking congregations, as well as some Chinese- and Turkish-speaking groups.A small minority of ethnic Germans are also Christian, mostlyLutheranandAnabaptistas well as aRoman Catholiccommunity of approximately 600.
As part of the historicKyrgyzstan Germanminority, there were around 200Mennonitesin Kyrgyzstan in 2022.One Mennonite community continues in the settlement ofRot-Front.
A fewAnimistictraditions survive, as do influences fromBuddhismsuch as the tying ofprayer flagsonto sacred trees, though some view this practice rooted withinSufiIslam.There is also a small number ofBukharian Jewsliving in Kyrgyzstan, but during the collapse of theSoviet Unionmost fled to other countries, mainly the United States and Israel. In addition, there is a small community ofAshkenazi Jews, who fled to the country from eastern Europe during theSecond World War.
On 6 November 2008, the Kyrgyzstan parliament unanimously passed a law increasing the minimum number of adherents for recognizing a religion from 10 to 200. It also outlawed "aggressive action aimed atproselytism", and banned religious activity in schools and all activity by unregistered organizations. It was signed by PresidentKurmanbek Bakiyevon 12 January 2009.
There have been several reported police raids against peaceful minority religious meetings,as well as reports of officials planting false evidence,but also some court decisions in favour of religious minorities.
Illegal, but still practiced, is the tradition ofbride kidnapping.It is debatable whether bride kidnapping is actually traditional. Some of the confusion may stem from the fact thatarranged marriageswere traditional, and one of the ways to escape an arranged marriage was to arrange a consensual "kidnapping".
The 40-rayed yellow sun in the center ofthe national flagrepresent the 40 tribes that once made up the entirety of Kyrgyz culture before the intervention of Russia during the rise of the Soviet Union. The lines inside the sun represent the crown or tündük (Kyrgyz түндүк) of a yurt, a symbol replicated in many facets of Kyrgyz architecture. The red portion of the flag represents peace and openness of Kyrgyzstan.
Under Soviet rule and before 1992, it had theflag of the Soviet Unionwith two big blue stripes and a white thin stripe in the middle.
In addition to celebrating theNew Yeareach 1 January, the Kyrgyz observe the traditional New Year festivalNowruzon the vernal equinox. This spring holiday is celebrated with feasts and festivities such as the horse gameUlak Tartish.
This is the list of public holidays in Kyrgyzstan:
Two additional Muslim holidaysOrozo AytandQurman (or Qurban) Aytare defined by the lunar calendar.
In the2000 Summer OlympicsinSydney, Kyrgyzstan received its first ever Olympic medal whenAidyn Smagulovwon bronze in the men's 60 kg competition final injudo.
Footballis the most popular sport in Kyrgyzstan.The official governing body is theFootball Federation of Kyrgyz Republic, which was founded in 1992, after the split of theSoviet Union. It administers theKyrgyzstan national football team.
Wrestlingis also very popular. Since the2008 Summer Olympic Games, Kyrgyzstani wrestlers have won six medals inGreco-Romanandfreestyle wrestling: three in2008and three in2020.
Ice hockeywas not as popular in Kyrgyzstan until the firstIce Hockey Championshipwas organized in 2009. In 2011, theKyrgyzstan men's national ice hockey teamwon2011 Asian Winter GamesPremier Division dominating in all six games with six wins. It was the first major international event that Kyrgyzstan's ice hockey team took part in.The Kyrgyzstan men's ice hockey team joined theIIHFin July 2011.
Bandyis becoming increasingly popular in the country. The Kyrgyz national team took Kyrgyzstan's first medal at theAsian Winter Games, when they captured the bronze. They played in theBandy World Championship 2012, their first appearance in that tournament.
Martial Arts:Valentina Shevchenkois a Kyrgyzstani–Peruvianprofessional mixed martial artist who competes in thewomen's flyweightdivision of theUltimate Fighting Championship(UFC), where she is theWomen's Flyweight champion.
Boxing:Dmitry Bivolis a professional boxer fromTokmok, Kyrgyzstan, who competes representing Russia in the Light Heavyweight Division. Since 2017, he has held theWorld Boxing AssociationLight HeavyweightTitle. As of August 2019, Bivol is ranked as the world's best active light-heavyweight by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and BoxRec, and third by TheRing Magazine.
Kyrgyzstan's national basketball teamhad its best performance at the official1995 Asian Basketball Championshipwhere the team finished ahead of favorites such asIran,PhilippinesandJordan.
XXI International Issyk-Kul Sports Games (SCO + CIS) was held in 9–17 September 2022 inBaktuu-Dolonotuvillage (Issyk-Kul).The first three World Nomad Games were held inCholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The 6th International Sports Festival Pearl of Kyrgyzstan were held in Issyk-Kul region from 15 June to 3 July 2022.
The traditional national sports reflect the importance ofhorse ridingin Kyrgyz culture.
Very popular, as in all ofCentral Asia, isUlak Tartysh, ateam gameresembling a cross betweenpoloandrugbyin which two teams of riders wrestle for possession of the headless carcass of a goat, which they attempt to deliver across the opposition's goal line, or into the opposition's goal: a big tub or a circle marked on the ground.
Other popular games on horseback include:
The school system in Kyrgyzstan also includes primary (grades 1 to 4, some schools have optional 0 grade), secondary (grades 5 to 9) and high (grades 10 to 11) divisions within one school.Children are usually accepted to primary schools at the age of 6 or 7. It is required that every child finishes 9 grades of school and receives a certificate of completion. Grades 10–11 are optional, but it is necessary to complete them to graduate and receive a state-accredited school diploma. To graduate, a student must complete the 11-year school course and pass 4 mandatory state exams in writing, maths, history, and a foreign language.
There are 77 public schools in Bishkek (capital city) and more than 200 in the rest of the country. There are 55 higher educational institutions and universities in Kyrgyzstan, out of which 37 are state institutions.
In September 2016, theUniversity of Central Asiawas launched in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan.
There are also various Russian-language medium schools in Bishkek, Osh and other areas. Because of the better funding that they receive in comparation with Kyrgyz state schools, many Kyrgyz go there. In March 2021 Russia announced its plans to create approximately 30 new Russian-language schools in Kyrgyzstan. Teachers from Russia are also working here. However, the existence of these schools has been criticised, for reasons such as the fact that Russian language education has flaws compared to the Turkish and American schools in the country, but also because many ethnic Kyrgyz born after Kyrgyz independence in 1991 can't speak Kyrgyz, but only Russian, according to a Bishkek resident.
Kyrgyzstan is home to 1,066 libraries.TheNational Library of the Kyrgyz Republicis the oldest library in the country, which was established in 1934. Kyrgyz Libraries are working towards expanding access to communities, evident in projects such as the signing of theMarrakesh VIP Treatyand theOpen accessPortal.
Transport in Kyrgyzstan is severely constrained by the country's alpine topography. Roads have to snake up steep valleys, cross passes of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) altitude and more, and are subject to frequent mudslides and snow avalanches. Winter travel is close to impossible in many of the more remote and high-altitude regions.
Additional problems come from the fact that many roads and railway lines built during theSovietperiod are today intersected by international boundaries, requiring time-consuming border formalities to cross where they are not completely closed.Horsesare still a much-used transport option, especially in more rural areas; Kyrgyzstan's road infrastructure is not extensive, so horses are able to reach locations that motor vehicles cannot, and they do not require expensive, importedfuel.
At the end of the Soviet period there were about 50 airports and airstrips in Kyrgyzstan, many of them built primarily to serve military purposes in this border region so close to China. Only a few of them remain in service today. TheKyrgyzstan Air Companyprovides air transport to China, Russia, and other local countries.
Kyrgyzstan appears on the European Union'slist of prohibited countries for the certification of airlines. This means that no airline that is registered in Kyrgyzstan may operate services of any kind within the European Union, due to safety standards that fail to meet European regulations.
TheChüy Valleyin the north and theFergana valleyin the south were endpoints of theSoviet Union's rail system in Central Asia. Following the emergence of independent post-Soviet states, the rail lines which were built without regard for administrative boundaries have been cut by borders, and traffic is therefore severely curtailed. The small bits of rail lines within Kyrgyzstan, about 370 km (230 mi) (1,520 mm (59.8 in) broad gauge) in total, have little economic value in the absence of the former bulk traffic over long distances to and from such centres asTashkent,Almaty, and the cities of Russia.
In 2022, construction began on a new 186 km extension of the existing railway fromBalykchytoKarakeche.Its primary purpose will be to carry coal from mines at Karakeche toBishkek.
There are vague plans about extending rail lines fromBalykchyin the north or fromOshin the south into China, but the cost of construction would be enormous.
In 2022, the president of Kyrgyzstan, Zhaparov, has told local media that he expects construction of the 523 km China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) Railway to begin next year. The CKU Railway would comprise 213 km (132 mi) in China, 260 km (162 mi) in Kyrgyzstan and 50 km (31 mi) in Uzbekistan.
With support from theAsian Development Bank, a major road linking the north and southwest of the country from the capital city ofBishkektoOshhas recently been completed. This considerably eases communication between the two major population centres of the country—theChüy Valleyin the north and theFergana Valleyin the South. An offshoot of this road branches off across a 3,500 meterpassinto theTalas Valleyin the northwest. Plans are now being formulated to build a major road from Osh into China.
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