Kyrgyzstan

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Overview of kyrgyzstan

History

The native Kyrgyz are a Turkic people who first settled in the Tien Shan mountains. They were traditionally pastoral nomads. Due to extensive Russian colonization in the 1900s, Russian settlers were given much of the best agricultural land. This led to an unsuccessful and disastrous revolt by the Kyrgyz people in 1916. Kyrgyzstan became part of the Soviet Federated Socialist Republic in 1924 and was made an autonomous republic in 1926. It became a constituent republic of the USSR in 1936. The Soviets forced the Kyrgyz to abandon their nomadic culture and adopt modern farming and industrial production techniques.

Kyrgyzstan proclaimed its independence from the Soviet Union on Aug. 31, 1991. On Dec. 21, 1991, Kyrgyzstan joined the Commonwealth of Independent States. The country joined the UN and the IMF in 1992 and adopted a shock-therapy economic program. Voters endorsed market reforms in a referendum held in Jan. 1994, and in 1996, referendum voters overwhelmingly endorsed proposed constitutional changes that enhanced the power of the president.

There is an ethnic and economic divide between the more developed north with its Kyrgyz population and the impoverished south, which is made up of Uzbeks and a diverse group of other ethnicities. About 50% of the entire population lived below the poverty line in 2003.

Since 1999, several groups of radical Islamic gunmen, believed to be from Uzbekistan or Tajikistan, have led raids and kidnappings from base camps in Kyrgyzstan's mountains.

Geography

Kyrgyzstan (formerly Kirghizia) is a rugged country with the Tien Shan mountain range covering approximately 95% of the whole territory. The mountaintops are perennially covered with snow and glaciers. Kyrgyzstan borders Kazakhstan on the north and northwest, Uzbekistan in the southwest, Tajikistan in the south, and China in the southeast. The republic has the same area as the state of Nebraska.

"kyrgyzstan
Quick-facts "

President: Almazbek Atambayev +977 14511001

Prime Minister: Temir Sariyev +977 14511001

Total area: 73,861 sq mi (191,300 sq km)

Population (2014 est.): 5,604,212; (growth rate: 1.04%); birth rate: +977 14511001; infant mortality rate: +977 14511001; life expectancy: 70.06.

Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Bishkek, 839,000

Monetary unit: Som

National name: Kyrgyz Respublikasy

Current government officials

Languages: Kyrgyz (official) 64.7%, Uzbek 13.6%, Russian (official) 12.5%, Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)

Ethnicity/race: Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% +977 14511001

Religions: Islam 75%; Russian Orthodox 20%; other 5%

National Holiday: Independence Day, August 31

Literacy rate: 99.2% (2009 est.

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 489,000 +977 14511001; mobile cellular: 6.8 million +977 14511001. Broadcast media: state-run television broadcaster operates 2 nationwide networks and 6 regional stations; roughly 20 private TV stations operating with most rebroadcasting other channels; state-run radio broadcaster operates 2 networks; about 20 private radio stations operating +977 14511001. Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 115,573 +977 14511001 Internet users: 2.195 million +977 14511001.

Transportation: Railways: 470 km +977 14511001. Highways: total: 34,000 km (2007 est.). Waterways: 600 km +977 14511001. Ports and harbors: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye). Airports: +977 14511001.

International disputes: Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas.

Visa to Kyrgyzstan

People from more than 68 countries can visit Kyrgyzstan without a visa. More details through the following link: http://www.evisa.e-gov.kg/step_1.php?lng=en