Fun Easy English - Travel abroad Kyrgyzstan.

OFFICIAL NAME: Kyrgyz Republic

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION

The Kyrgyz Republic is a newly-independent nation in Central Asia undergoing profound political and economic change. Tourist facilities are not highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet widely available.

PEOPLE

According to recent findings of Kyrgyz and Chinese historians, Kyrgyz history dates back to 201 B.C. The earliest descendents 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.

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, and the territory was formally incorporated into 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 suppression of the 1916 rebellion in Central Asia caused many Kyrgyz to migrate to China.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

A passport and visa are required. American citizens can obtain a one-month single-entry, non-extendable tourist visa upon arrival and without invitation or sponsorship at the “Manas” International Airport outside Bishkek for a fee of up to $60. Travelers cannot obtain a tourist visa at land borders or other airports. American citizens visiting the Kyrgyz Republic are not required to register with the Office of Visas and Registration. The Embassy recommends that Americans traveling in the Kyrgyz Republic also obtain Kazakh visas, as commercial air travel out of the Kyrgyz Republic is limited and Americans may need to travel through Kazakhstan to return to the United States. For further information regarding entry/exit requirements, contact the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic at 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone: (202) 449-9822, fax: (202) 386-7550, or on the Internet at http://www.kyrgyzembassy.org. Visit the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic web site at http://www.kyrgyzembassy.org/ for the most current visa information.

QUICK FACTS

Geography
Area: 77,181 sq. mi.
Cities: Bishkek (capital), Osh, Cholpon Ata, Karakol.
Terrain: 90% mountainous, with some desert regions. Elevation extremes--lowest point: Kulundy village in the Batken province 401 m; highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m.

People
Nationality: Kyrgyzstani.
Population (July 2006): 5,213,988.
Annual growth rate (2006): 1.32%.
Ethnic groups (Jan. 2003): Kyrgyz 67%; Russian 11%; Uzbek 14%; Dungan (ethnic Chinese Muslims) 1%; Uighurs 1%; Tatars 0.9%; German 0.3%; other 4.8%.
Main religions: Islam; Russian Orthodox.
Language: State--Kyrgyz; official (2001)--Russian.
Education: Nine years compulsory. Literacy--98.7%.
Health (2003): Infant mortality rate--21.2 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--68.2 years.
Population distribution (2003): Urban 64.6%; rural 35.4%.

Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: August 31, 1991 (from the Soviet Union).
Constitution: May 5, 1993; amended in 1996, 1998, 2003, and 2006.
Branches: Executive--president, prime minister. Legislative--parliament. Judicial--Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, local courts, Procurator-General.
Administrative subdivisions: Seven oblasts and the municipality of Bishkek.
Political parties and leaders: the Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan, Viktor Tchetrnomorets; the “Erkindik” (Freedom) Party, Topchubek Turgunaliyev; the Republican Party of Labor and Unity, Tabaldy Orozaliyev; the “Sanjira” (Tree of Life) Party, Ednan Karabayev; the “Sodrujestvo” Party, Vladimir Nifadyev and Samat Borubayev; the “Asaba” (Banner) Party, Deputy Azimbek Beknazarov; the “Ata-Meken” (Fatherland) Party, Deputy Omurbek Tekebayev; the Social Democratic Party, Almaz Atambayev; the Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Iskhak Masaliyev; the “Moya Strana” (My Country) Party, Deputy Head of Presidential Staff Medet Sadyrkulov; the “Arnamyz” (Dignity) Party, Emil Aliyev; the Union of Democratic Forces, Deputy Kubatbek Baibolov.

Economy
GDP: 2006, $2.8 billion; 2003, $1.9 billion; 2002, $1.6 billion; 2001, $1.5 billion.
GDP growth rate in 2006: 2.7%.
Inflation rate in 2006: 5.6%.
GDP per capita (2006 est.): $536.
Unemployment rate (as of the end of 2006): 17.7%.
Natural resources: Abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of iron, bauxite, copper, tin, molybdenum, mercury, and antimony.
Agriculture: Products--tobacco, cotton, wheat, vegetables (potatoes, sugar beets, beans), fruits (apples, apricots, peaches, grapes), berries; sheep, goats, cattle; wool.
Industry: Types--small machinery (electric motors, transformers), light industry (cotton and wool processing, textiles, food processing), construction materials (cement, glass, slate), shoes, furniture, mining, energy.
Trade: Exports (2006)--$719 million: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco, gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower, machinery, shoes. Partners--Switzerland 25.8%, Kazakhstan 19.3%, Russia 18.4%, Afghanistan 9.2%, China 4.6%, Uzbekistan 3.2%, Turkey 3.2%, U.S. 0.7%. Imports--$1,685.6 million: oil and gas, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs. Partners--Russia 31%, U.S. 17.1%, China 11.3%, Kazakhstan 9.1%, Uzbekistan 3.9%.
Total external debt in 2003 was $1.8 billion, of which the share of the public sector was $1.6 billion.

USEFUL LINKS

U.S. Government