Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан, variously transliterated), officially the Kyrgyz Republic, and sometimes known as Kirghizia, is a country in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, it borders China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Its capital is Bishkek. Once a republic of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan has been independent since 1991. Remaining fairly stable throughout most of the 1990s, the country's young democracy showed relative promise under the leadership of former President Askar Akayev, but later moved towards autocracy and authoritarianism. At present Kyrgyzstan is in turmoil following a sudden revolution and President Akayev's resignation on April 4, 2005, and the political situation in the country remains uncertain. Categories: Language stubs | Languages of China | Languages of Kyrgyzstan | Turkic languages ... Map of Central Asia outlined in orange showing one set of possible borders Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) comprises most of the cultural, historic, and geographic area known as China. ... Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, IPA /qɑzɑqˈstɑn/; Russian: Казахстан, Kazakhstán, IPA /kɐzəxˈstɐn/), also spelled Kazakstan, is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Asia, and a former republic of the now extinct USSR. A portion of its territory west of the Ural River is located in eastern... The Republic of Tajikistan (Тоҷикистон), formerly known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, is a country in Central Asia. ... The Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia (it is surrounded only by landlocked countries and, along with Liechtenstein, is one of only two such countries in the world). ... Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (population 700,000), founded in 1878 and from 1926-1991 known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik commander Mikhail Frunze, is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ... The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) .( Russian: Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик (СССР)  listen?; tr. ... This article deals with democracy in its modern sense. ... Askar Akayevich Akayev (born 10 November 1944 in Kyzyl-Bairak, Kyrgyzstan) has been the President of Kyrgyzstan since it declared independence. ... Autocracy is a form of government where unlimited power is held by a single individual. ... The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against the population, generally without attempts at gaining the consent of the population. ... The Tulip Revolution refers to the overthrow of President Askar Akayev and his government in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan after the parliamentary elections of February 27 and of March 13, 2005. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ...

(Flag) (Coat of Arms)
National motto: none
Official languages	Kyrgyz, Russian
Capital	Bishkek
President	Kurmanbek Bakiyev (acting)
Prime Minister	Kurmanbek Bakiyev (acting)
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 86th 198,500 km² 3.6%
Population  - Total (2005 est.)  - Density	Ranked 111th 5,146,281 26/km²
Independence  - Declared	From the Soviet Union 31 August 1991
Currency	Som
Time zone	UTC +5
National anthem	National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic
Internet TLD	.kg
Calling Code	996

History

Main article: History of Kyrgyzstan Being populated by Iranian tribes such as Sogdians for many centuries and later by Turkic immigrants, the area of Kyrgyzstan was on the fringes of the Persian Empire. ...

According to recent findings of Kyrgyz and Chinese historians, Kyrgyz history dates back to 201 BC. The earliest ancestors of the Kyrgyz people, who are believed to be of Turkic descent, lived in the northeastern part of what is currently Mongolia. Later, some of their tribes migrated to the region that is currently southern Siberia and settled along the Yenisey River, where they lived from the 6th until the 8th centuries. They spread across what is now the Tuva region of the Russian Federation, remaining in that area until the rise of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, when the Kyrgyz began migrating south. In the 12th century, Islam became the predominant religion in the region. Most Kyrgyz are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school. The Great Wall of China, stretching over 6,700 km, was erected beginning in the 3rd century BC to guard the north from raids by men on horses. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC - 200s BC - 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC Years: 206 BC 205 BC 204 BC 203 BC 202 BC - 201 BC - 200 BC 199 BC... This is the disambiguation page for the terms Turk, Turkey, Turkic, and Turkish. ... For the region of the same name, see Mongolia (region) Mongolia (Khalkha Mongolian: Монгол Улс) is a landlocked nation in central Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and the Peoples Republic of China to the south. ... Siberian federal subjects of Russia Siberia ( Russian: Сиби́рь, common English transliterations: Sibir, Sibir; possibly from the Mongolian for the calm land) is a vast region of Russia and northern Kazakhstan constituting almost all of northern Asia. ... Енисей Length 5,550 (4,102) km Elevation of the source m Average discharge 19,600 m³/s Area watershed 2,580,000 km² Origin  ? Mouth Arctic Ocean Basin countries Russia The Yenisei basin, Lake Baikal, and the cities of Dikson, Dudinka, Turukhansk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk Yenisei (Енисе́й) is a river... (5th century — 6th century — 7th century — other centuries) Events The first academy of the east the Academy of Gundeshapur founded in Persia by the Persian Shah Khosrau I. Irish colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to Caledonia (later known as Scotland) Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland founded by St. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... Tuva or Tyva (Russian: Республика Тыва [Тува], Respublika Tyva [Tuva]) (pop. ... The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Hanafi is one of the four schools (madhabs) of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. ...

During the 15th-16th centuries, the Kyrgyz people settled in the territory currently known as the Kyrgyz Republic. In the early 19th century, the southern territory of the Kyrgyz Republic came under the control of the Khanate of Kokand, but the territory was occupied and formally annexed by the Russian Empire in 1876. The Russian takeover instigated numerous revolts against tsarist authority, and many Kyrgyz opted to move into the Pamir mountains or to Afghanistan. The ruthless suppression of the 1916 rebellion in Central Asia, triggered by the Russian imposition of the military draft on the Kyrgyz and other Central Asian peoples, caused many Kyrgyz to flee to China. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Star Trek character see Khan Noonien Singh. ... Kokand (or Khokand or Kokhand or Quqon) is a city in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southwestern edge of the Fergana Valley. ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of Russian history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... 1876 is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Tsar ( Bulgarian цар, Russian царь,  listen?; often spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English), was the title used for the autocratic rulers of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires since 913, in Serbia in the middle of the 14th century, and in Russia from 1547 to... Located in Central Asia, the Pamir Mountains are formed by the junction of the worlds greatest mountain ranges, a geologic structural knot from which the great Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush mountain systems radiate. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

Soviet power was initially established in the region in 1918, and in 1924, the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast was created within the Russian SFSR. (The term Kara-Kirghiz was used until the mid-1920s by the Russians to distinguish them from the Kazakhs, who were also referred to as Kirghiz.) In 1926, it became the Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. On December 5, 1936, the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) was established as a full Union Republic of the U.S.S.R. 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast (Кара-Киргизская АО) was created on October 14, 1924 within RSFSR from a part of Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. ... State motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Workers of the world, unite!) Official language None (Russian in practice) Capital Moscow Chairman of the Supreme Council Boris Yeltsin Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 1st in former Soviet Union 17,075,200 km² 0,5% Population  - Total (1989)  - Density Ranked 1st in the former... Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Referred to as the Roaring 20s. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... State motto: Бардык өлкөлордүн пролетарлары, бириккиле! Official language None. ... Soviet redirects here. ...

During the 1920s, the Kyrgyz Republic saw considerable cultural, educational, and social change. Economic and social development also was notable. Literacy increased, and a standard literary language was introduced. The Kyrgyz language belongs to the Southern Turkic group of languages. In 1924, an Arabic-based Kyrgyz alphabet was introduced, which was replaced by Latin script in 1928. In 1941 Cyrillic script was adopted. Many aspects of the Kyrgyz national culture were retained despite suppression of nationalist activity under Joseph Stalin, who controlled the Soviet Union from the late 1920's until 1953. This article or section should include material from New literacy studies. ... Categories: Language stubs | Languages of China | Languages of Kyrgyzstan | Turkic languages ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most widely used alphabetic writing system in the world, the standard script of the English language and most of the languages of western and central Europe, and of those areas settled by Europeans. ... The Cyrillic alphabet (or azbuka, from the old name of the first letters) is an alphabet used to write six natural Slavic languages (Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian, and Ukrainian) and many other languages of the former Soviet Union, Asia and Eastern Europe. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

The early years of glasnost in the late 1980s had little effect on the political climate in the Kyrgyz Republic. 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 an acute housing crisis were permitted to function. Glasnost (Russian: гла́сность,  listen?) was one of Mikhail Gorbachevs policies introduced to the Soviet Union in 1985. ...

In June 1990, ethnic tensions between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz surfaced in an area of the Osh Oblast where Uzbeks form a majority of the population. Violent confrontations ensued, and a state of emergency and curfew were introduced. Order was not restored until August 1990. Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group found primarily in Uzbekistan, but also in Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang province of China and other countries in Central Asia. ... Osh Province (Kyrgyz: Ош областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ...

The early 1990s brought measurable change to the Kyrgyz Republic. The Kyrgyzstan Democratic Movement (KDM) had developed into a significant political force with support in parliament. In an upset victory, Askar Akayev, the president of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, was elected to the presidency in October 1990. The following January, Akayev introduced new government structures and appointed a new government comprised mainly of younger, reform-oriented politicians. In December 1990, the Supreme Soviet voted to change the republic's name to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. (In 1993, it became the Kyrgyz Republic.) In February 1991, the name of the capital, Frunze, was changed back to its pre-revolutionary name—Bishkek. Askar Akayevich Akayev (born 10 November 1944 in Kyzyl-Bairak, Kyrgyzstan) has been the President of Kyrgyzstan since it declared independence. ... Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (population 700,000), founded in 1878 and from 1926-1991 known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik commander Mikhail Frunze, is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ...

Despite these moves toward independence, economic realities seemed to work against secession from the U.S.S.R. In a referendum on the preservation of the U.S.S.R. in March 1991, 88.7% of the voters approved a proposal to retain the U.S.S.R. as a "renewed federation." Soviet redirects here. ...

On August 19, 1991, when the State Committee for the State of Emergency (SCSE) assumed power in Moscow, there was an attempt to depose Akayev in Kyrgyzstan. After the coup collapsed the following week, Akayev and Vice President German Kuznetsov announced their resignations from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), and the entire politburo and secretariat resigned. This was followed by the Supreme Soviet vote declaring independence from the U.S.S.R. on August 31, 1991. Kyrgyz was announced as the state language in September 1991. (In December 2001, through a constitutional amendment, the Russian language was given official status.) August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Saint Basils Cathedral Moscow  listen? ( Russian/Cyrillic: Москва́, pronunciation: Moskva), capital of Russia, located on the river Moskva, and encompassing 1097. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... For other usage of the initials CPSU see CPSU (disambiguation). ... The Supreme Soviet (Верховный Совет, Verhovniy Sovet, literally the Supreme Council) comprised the highest legislative body in the Soviet Union in the interim of the sessions of the Congress of Soviets, and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining, as the final day of August. ...

In October 1991, Akayev ran unopposed and was elected President of the new independent republic by direct ballot, receiving 95% of the votes cast. Together with the representatives of seven other republics, he signed the Treaty of the New Economic Community that same month. On December 21, 1991, the Kyrgyz Republic formally entered the new Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (in Russian: Содружество Независимых Государств (СНГ) - Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv) is a confederation or alliance consisting of 12 of the 15 former Soviet Republics, the exceptions being the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ...

In 1993, allegations of corruption against Akayev's closest political associates blossomed into a major scandal. One of those accused of improprieties was Prime Minister Chyngyshev, who was dismissed for ethical reasons in December. Following Chyngyshev's dismissal, Akayev dismissed the government and called upon the last communist premier, Apas Djumagulov, to form a new one. In January 1994, Akayev initiated a referendum asking for a renewed mandate to complete his term of office. He received 96.2% of the vote. 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ...

A new constitution was passed by the parliament in May 1993. In 1994, however, the parliament failed to produce a quorum for its last scheduled session prior to the expiration of its term in February 1995. President Akayev was widely accused of having manipulated a boycott by a majority of the parliamentarians. Akayev, in turn, asserted that the communists had caused a political crisis by preventing the legislature from fulfilling its role. Akayev scheduled an October 1994 referendum, overwhelmingly approved by voters, which proposed two amendments to the constitution—one that would allow the constitution to be amended by means of a referendum, and the other creating a new bicameral parliament called the Jogorku Kenesh.

Elections for the two legislative chambers—a 35-seat full-time assembly and a 70-seat part-time assembly—were held in February 1995 after campaigns considered remarkably free and open by most international observers, although the election-day proceedings were marred by widespread irregularities. Independent candidates won most of the seats, suggesting that personalities prevailed over ideologies. The new parliament convened its initial session in March 1995. One of its first orders of business was the approval of the precise constitutional language on the role of the legislature.

On December 24, 1995, President Akayev was reelected for another 5-year term with wide support (75% of vote) over two opposing candidates. He used government resources and state-owned media to carry out his campaign. Three (out of six) candidates were de-registered shortly before the election. December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ...

A February 1996 referendum—in violation of the constitution and the law on referendums—amended the constitution to give President Akayev more power. Although the changes gave the president the power to dissolve parliament, it also more clearly defined the parliament's powers. Since that time, the parliament has demonstrated real independence from the executive branch.

An October 1998 referendum approved constitutional changes, including increasing the number of deputies in the lower house, reducing the number of deputies in the upper house, providing for 25% of lower house deputies to be elected by party lists, rolling back parliamentary immunity, introducing private property, prohibiting adoption of laws restricting freedom of speech and mass media, and reforming the state budget.

Two rounds of parliamentary elections were held on February 20, 2000 and March 12, 2000. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reported that the elections failed to comply with commitments to free and fair elections and hence were invalid. Questionable judicial proceedings against opposition candidates and parties limited the choice of candidates available to Kyrgyz voters, while state-controlled media only reported favorably on official candidates. Government officials put pressure on independent media outlets that favored the opposition. The presidential election that followed later in 2000 also was marred by irregularities and was not declared free and fair by international observers. February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in Leap years). ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ...

The most recent elections were parliamentary, held February 27 and March 13, 2005. The OSCE found that while the elections failed to comply with commitments to free and fair elections, there were improvements over the 2000 elections, notably the use of indelible ink, transparent ballot boxes, and generally good access by election observers. February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ...

Sporadic protests against perceived manipulation and fraud during the elections erupted into widespread calls for the government to resign, which started in the southern provinces. By March 24, 15,000 pro-opposition demonstrators called for the resignation of the President and his regime in Bishkek. Injuries from police clashes were reported along with widespread looting. Protestors seized the presidential administration building, after which Akayev hurriedly fled the country, first for neighboring Kazakhstan and then for Moscow. Initially refusing to resign and denouncing the events as a coup, he subsequently resigned his office on April 4. A first attempt by parliament to ratify his resignation failed for lack of a quorum. March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, IPA /qɑzɑqˈstɑn/; Russian: Казахстан, Kazakhstán, IPA /kɐzəxˈstɐn/), also spelled Kazakstan, is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Asia, and a former republic of the now extinct USSR. A portion of its territory west of the Ural River is located in eastern... Saint Basils Cathedral Moscow  listen? ( Russian/Cyrillic: Москва́, pronunciation: Moskva), capital of Russia, located on the river Moskva, and encompassing 1097. ...

Opposition leaders promised to move quickly to establish legitimacy, forming a broadly inclusive "Committee of National Unity" and appointing nominal heads of government.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Kyrgyzstan Political history since independence In the first years of Kyrgyzstans full independence, President Akayev appeared wholeheartedly committed to the reform process. ...

The 1993 constitution defines the form of government as a democratic republic. The executive branch includes a president and prime minister. The parliament currently is bicameral. The judicial branch comprises a Supreme Court, a Constitutional Court, local courts, and a Procurator-General.

March 2002 events in the southern district of Aksy, where five people protesting the arbitrary arrest of an opposition politician were shot dead by police, sparked nationwide protests. President Akayev initiated 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. Under the new constitution, the previously bicameral parliament became a 75-seat unicameral legislature following the 2005 parliamentary elections. Aksy is a small town in southern Kyrgyzstan which gained notoriety in 2002 when police and militia fired into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators, killing five. ...

Interim government leaders are developing a new governing structure for the country and working to resolve outstanding constitutional issues. Presidential elections have been scheduled for July 10, 2005.

Provinces

Kyrgyzstan is divided into seven provinces (singular: oblasty, plural: oblastlar). The capital, Bishkek, is administratively an independent city (shaar), as well as being the capital of Chuy Province. Osh also has shaar status. Province is a name for a secondary, or subnational entity of government in most countries. ... An oblast (Russian, Ukrainian: о́бласть) is a name for the subnational entity of Bulgaria, Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union. ... Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (population 700,000), founded in 1878 and from 1926-1991 known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik commander Mikhail Frunze, is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ... A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... Chui Province (Kyrgyz: Чүй областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ...

The provinces, with their administrative capitals, are as follows: Provinces of Kyrgyzstan Map by Hardscarf from the Dutch Wikipedia. ...

1. Bishkek (shaar)
2. Batken Province (Batken)
3. Chui Province (Tokmok)
4. Jalal-Abad Province (Jalal-Abad)
5. Naryn Province (Naryn)
6. Osh Province (Osh)
7. Talas Province (Talas)
8. Issyk Kul Province (Karakol)

Each province is comprises a number of districts (raion), administered by government-appointed officials. Rural communities (aiyl okmotus) consisting of up to twenty small settlements have their own elected mayors and councils. Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (population 700,000), founded in 1878 and from 1926-1991 known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik commander Mikhail Frunze, is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ... Batken Province (Kyrgyz: Баткен областы, Batken oblast) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ... Batken is a small town of about 25,000 in southwestern Kyrgyzstan, on the southern fringe of the Fergana Valley. ... Chui Province (Kyrgyz: Чүй областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ... Jalal-Abad Province (Kyrgyz: Жалал-Абад областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ... Jalal-Abad (since 2003 also spelled Jalalabad) is the administrative centre of the Jalal-Abad Oblasty in southwestern Kyrgyzstan. ... Naryn Province (Kyrgyz: Нарын областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ... Naryn is a provincial administrative center, with a population of about 40,000, in central Kyrgyzstan, situated on both sides of the Naryn River, a major source of the Syr Darya, which cuts a picturesque gorge through the town. ... Osh Province (Kyrgyz: Ош областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ... Talas Province (Kyrgyz: Талас областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ... Talas is a small town, beautifully located in a long valley between two imposing mountain ranges in northwestern Kyrgyzstan and the administrative headquarters of an administrative district (oblast) of the same name. ... Issyk Kul Province (Kyrgyz: Ысык-Көл областы) is a province (oblasty) of Kyrgyzstan. ... Karakol (black wrist in Kyrgyz) is a city of about 75,000, located near the eastern tip of lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. ... Districts are a form of local government in several countries. ... See rayon for the textile made of processed cellulose. ... A mayor (Latin maīor better) is the politician who serves as chief executive official of some types of municipalities. ... A Council is a group of people who usually possess some powers of governance. ...

Geography

Map of Kyrgyzstan

Main article: Geography of Kyrgyzstan

Places include: Kara-Su from cia wfb File links The following pages link to this file: Kyrgyzstan Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... from cia wfb File links The following pages link to this file: Kyrgyzstan Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Location: Central Asia, west of China Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E Area: total: 198,500 km² land: 191,300 km² water: 7,200 km² Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota Land boundaries: total: 3,878 km border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan... Kara Su (Black Water) valley in southwestern Kyrgyzstan, part of the Pamir Alai range, well known to mountaineers. ...

Lake: Issyk Kul Issyk Kul (also Ysyk Köl) is an endorheic lake in the northern Tien Shan mountains in northwestern Kyrgyzstan. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Kyrgyzstan The economy of Kyrgyzstan was severely affected by the collapse of the Soviet trading block. ...

Despite the backing of major Western donors, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, the Kyrgyz Republic has had economic difficulties following independence. Initially, these were a result of the breakup of the Soviet trading bloc and resulting loss of markets, which impeded the republic's transition to a free market economy. The government has reduced expenditures, ended most price subsidies, and introduced a value-added tax. Overall, the government appears committed to the transition to a market economy. Through economic stabilization and reform, the government seeks to establish a pattern of long-term consistent growth. Reforms led to the Kyrgyz Republic's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 20, 1998. The flag of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring foreign exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means of financing states. ... The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a non-profit finance institution with many Asian governments as shareholder members who are also the recipients of funding where appropriate. ... Value added tax (VAT) is a sales tax levied on the sale of goods and services. ... A market economy is a term used to describe an economy where economic decisions, such as pricing of goods and services, are made in a decentralized manner by the economys participants and manifested by trade. ... For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Kyrgyz Republic's 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-torn Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, 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 adequate fiscal revenues and providing an adequate social safety net. Armenia - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a country in the Caucasus, in the crossroads of Europe and Southwest Asia, with an east coast on the Caspian Sea. ... The Republic of Tajikistan (Тоҷикистон), formerly known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, is a country in Central Asia. ... The social safety net is a term used to describe a collection of services provided by the state (such as welfare, universal healthcare, homeless shelters, and perhaps various subsidized services such as transit), which prevent any individual from falling into poverty beyond a certain level. ...

Agriculture is an important sector of the economy in the Kyrgyz Republic. 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. The Kyrgyz Republic's terrain is mountainous, which accommodates livestock raising, the largest agricultural activity. Main crops include wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, cotton, tobacco, vegetables, and fruit. Wool, meat, and dairy products also are major commodities. Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals ( livestock). ... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... Species T. monococcum T. spelta References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 Wheat (Triticum spp) is a grass that is cultivated around the world. ... Two sugar beets - the one on the left has been cultivated to be smoother than the traditional beet, so that it traps less soil. ... Cotton is a soft fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub native to the tropical and subtropical regions of both the Old World and the New World. ... Species N. alata N. bigelovil N. debneyi N. excelsior N. exigua N. glauca N. glutinosa N. kawakamii N. knightiana N. longiflora N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of 2002-08-28 Tobacco () is a broad-leafed plant of the nightshade family, indigenous to North and South America, whose... Vegetables on a market Vegetable is a nutritional and culinary term denoting any part of a plant that is commonly consumed by humans as food, but is not regarded as a culinary fruit, nut, herb, spice, or grain. ... In botany, a fruit is the ripened ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant. ... This article is about wool, the fiber. ... Meat is animal flesh (mainly muscle tissue) used as food, sometimes with the exception of fish, other seafood, and poultry. ... Dairy products are generally defined as foodstuffs produced from milk. ...

Agricultural processing is a key component of the industrial economy, as well as one of the most attractive sectors for foreign investment. The Kyrgyz Republic is rich in mineral resources but has negligible petroleum and natural gas reserves; it imports petroleum and gas. Among its mineral reserves are substantial deposits of coal, gold, uranium, antimony, and other rare-earth metals. Metallurgy is 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. The Kyrgyz Republic's plentiful water resources and mountainous terrain enable it to produce and export large quantities of hydroelectric energy. Coal Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open-pit mining or strip mining. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 (IB), 6, d Density, Hardness 19300 kg/m3, 2. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Uranium, U, 92 Chemical series Actinides Period, Block 7 , f Density, Hardness 19050 kg/m3, ND Appearance silvery-white metal Atomic properties Atomic weight 238. ... General Name, Symbol, Number antimony, Sb, 51 Series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15 (VA), 5, p Density, Hardness 6697 kg/m3, 3 Appearance silvery lustrous grey Atomic properties Atomic weight 121. ... Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and of materials engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements and their mixtures, which are called alloys. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ...

The principal exports are nonferrous metals and minerals, woolen 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, and neighboring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Great Wall of China, stretching over 6,700 km, was erected beginning in the 3rd century BC to guard the north from raids by men on horses. ... Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, IPA /qɑzɑqˈstɑn/; Russian: Казахстан, Kazakhstán, IPA /kɐzəxˈstɐn/), also spelled Kazakstan, is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Asia, and a former republic of the now extinct USSR. A portion of its territory west of the Ural River is located in eastern... The Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia (it is surrounded only by landlocked countries and, along with Liechtenstein, is one of only two such countries in the world). ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Kyrgyzstan Population: 4,685,230 (July 2000 est. ...

The World Almanac 2005 reported that Kyrgyzstan's population is slightly more than 5 million, estimating it at 5,081,429. Of those, 34.4% are under the age of 15 and 6.2% are over the age of 65. The country is rural; only about one-third (33.9%) of Kyrgyzstan's population live in urban areas. The average population density is 29 people per km² (69 people per square mile). Rural areas are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities and towns. ... Population density can be used as a measurement of any tangible item. ...

Traditional roadside graves

The nation's largest ethnic group is the Kyrgyz, a Turkic group with Mongolian and Chinese influences. The Kyrgyz comprise 69.5% percent of the population and have historically been semi-nomadic herders, living in yurts and tending sheep, horses and yaks. This nomadic tradition continues to function, and the freedoms that it assumes continue to have an impact on the political atmosphere in the country. Other ethnic groups include ethnic Russians (9.0%) concentrated in the North and Uzbeks (14.5%) living in the South. Small, but noticeable minorities include Uyghurs (1.1%), Tajiks (1.1%), Kazakhs (0.7%), Dungan (1.2%) and Turks (0.9%), as well as smaller Korean (0.3%), Ukrainian (0.5%) and tiny German communities. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section should be merged with ethnicity An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... Kirghiz (also Kyrgyz) are a Turkic ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. ... Turkic peoples - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... The Peoples Republic of China officially describes itself as a multinational unitary state and as such officially recognizes 56 nationalities or Mínzú (民族), within China: the Han being the majority (>92%), and the remaining 55 nationalities being the national minorities. ... Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... A Yurt is a traditional home of the nomads who live on the cold, dry steppes of Central Asia. ... This article is about the animal, sheep; for other meanings of Sheep, see Sheep (disambiguation). ... horse, see Horse (disambiguation). ... This article is about the animal. ... Russians (Русские - Russkie) are an East Slavic ethnic group, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries. ... Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group found primarily in Uzbekistan, but also in Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang province of China and other countries in Central Asia. ... Uyghurs (also called Uighurs, Uygurs, or Uigurs) ( Simplified Chinese: 维吾尔; Traditional Chinese: 維吾爾; pinyin: ) are a Turkic ethnic group of people living in northwestern China (mainly in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where they are the dominant ethnic group together with Han people), Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. ... The Tajiks are one of the principal ethnic groups of Central Asia, and are primarily found in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. ... A Kazakh and his camel The Kazakhs (Qazaq, Quazaq), (in Kazakh: Казак; in Russian: Казах; English term is the transliteration from Russian) are a Turkic people of the northern parts of Central Asia famous in the past for the fierce love of freedom, skillful horse riding, hunting with semi-domesticated... The Dungan are a Chinese Muslim people in Kyrgyzstan. ...

Culture

A road near Bishkek

Main article: Culture of Kyrgyzstan Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (population 700,000), founded in 1878 and from 1926-1991 known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik commander Mikhail Frunze, is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ...

• Islam in Kyrgyzstan
• Manas, an epic poem
• Tush kyiz, large, elaborately embroidered wall hangings

The vast majority of todays Kyrgyz are Muslims of the Sunni branch, but Islam came late and fairly superficially to the area. ... Manas is an epic poem of the Kyrgyz people and the name of the epics eponymous hero. ... In mathematics, see epic morphism. ... Tush kyiz are large, elaborately embroidered wall hangings, traditionally made in Kyrgyzstan by elder women to commemorate the marriage of a son or daughter. ...

Flag

It is considered that there are 40 Kyrgyz tribes. This is symbolized by the 40-rayed yellow sun in the center of the flag of Kyrgyzstan. The lines inside the sun are supposedly a yurt. A Yurt is a traditional home of the nomads who live on the cold, dry steppes of Central Asia. ...

Holidays

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Kyrgyzstan
• Transportation in Kyrgyzstan
• Military of Kyrgyzstan
• Foreign relations of Kyrgyzstan
• List of cities in Kyrgyzstan
• Tulip Revolution
• Kyrgyz parliamentary elections, 2005

Telephones - main lines in use: 351,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider, probably limited to Bishkek region international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and... Railways: total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 370 km 1. ... Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, and Border Troops Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,234,457 (2002 est. ... Kyrgyzstan favors close relations with other CIS members, in particular with Kazakhstan and Russia. ... This is a list of cities in Kyrgyzstan Batken Balykchy Bishkek Jalal-Abad Karabalta Karakol Kyzyl-Kiya Naryn Osh Talas Tokmok Uzgen Categories: Lists of cities | Kyrgyzstan ... The Kyrgyz revolution of 2005 refers to the overthrow of President Askar Akayev and his government in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan after the parliamentary elections of February 27 and of March 13, 2005. ... The 2005 Kyrgyz parliamentary elections were held in February and March 2005. ...

External links

• Travel information about Kyrgyzstan (http://www.fantasticasia.net/?p=1)
• Photo gallery of Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia (http://www.mypostcard.net)
• http://www.centralasiannews.com
• http://www.centralasiatravel.com
• CountryGuide (http://www.countryguide.com/): Kyrgyzstan  (http://www.countryguide.com/Kyrgyzstan/) - editor-maintained directory focused on travel planning and research
• Photo gallery and information about Kyrgyzstan (http://www.uni-graz.at/franz.koelbl/kirgisien/) - in German
• The "Manas" epic (http://www.freenet.kg/kyrgyzstan/manas.html)
• Kyrgyz Textile Art (http://www.bukhara-carpets.com/making/kyrgyz.html)
• Kyrgyzstan Paper Money (http://numismondo.com/pm/kgz/) - private, privatization and government issues, 1993 to 2002.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (in Russian: Содружество Независимых Государств (СНГ) - Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv) is a confederation or alliance consisting of 12 of the 15 former Soviet Republics, the exceptions being the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Kazakhstan Russia Tajikistan Ukraine Uzbekistan Commonwealth of Independent States Georgia (country) Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan Template:Commonwealth of Independent States Wikipedia:WikiProject Countries/Footers 2004 Summer Olympics medals count by International Organization List of FIFA country codes Economy of Asia... Armenia - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a country in the Caucasus, in the crossroads of Europe and Southwest Asia, with an east coast on the Caspian Sea. ... Belarus (Belarusian: Белару́сь or Biełaruś, Russian: Белару́сь (formerly: Белору́ссия), Polish: Białoruś) is a landlocked nation of Eastern Europe with the capital Minsk. ... Georgia ( Georgian: საქართველო Sakartvelo), known from 1991 to 1995 as the Republic of Georgia, is a country to the east of the Black Sea in the southern Caucasus. ... Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, IPA /qɑzɑqˈstɑn/; Russian: Казахстан, Kazakhstán, IPA /kɐzəxˈstɐn/), also spelled Kazakstan, is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Asia, and a former republic of the now extinct USSR. A portion of its territory west of the Ural River is located in eastern... This article refers to the Republic of Moldova. ... The Republic of Tajikistan (Тоҷикистон), formerly known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, is a country in Central Asia. ... Turkmenistan, once known as the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic is a country in Central Asia. ... Ukraine (Україна, Ukrayina in Ukrainian; Украина in Russian) is a republic in eastern Europe which borders Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest and the Black Sea to the south. ... The Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia (it is surrounded only by landlocked countries and, along with Liechtenstein, is one of only two such countries in the world). ...