Updated August 3, 2020
Kyrgyz Republic
Overview
Figure 1. Map of the Kyrgyz Republic
The Kyrgyz Republic (commonly known as Kyrgyzstan) is
a mountainous, landlocked country that borders China and
maintains close ties with Russia. Formerly a constituent
republic of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan became
independent in 1991. As a parliamentary republic that holds
contested elections, Kyrgyzstan has long been considered
the most democratic country in Central Asia, with a vibrant
civil society and a higher degree of press freedom than
found elsewhere in the region. Corruption is pervasive,
however, and political institutions remain weak. In recent
years, international observers have voiced concerns about
democratic backsliding in Kyrgyzstan. Some Members of
Congress have also expressed concerns about government
pressure on independent media outlets, including the

Source: Graphic created by CRS
congressionally-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Because Kyrgyzstan is an impoverished country that relies
heavily on foreign remittances, the ongoing Coronavirus
2020 Parliamentary Elections: The next parliamentary
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is causing significant
elections are scheduled for October 4, 2020, but they may
economic strain.
be deferred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two
major parliamentary factions have fractured internally and
Political Background
there are no clear front-runners in the 2020 elections; it is
Government: Kyrgyzstan has twice experienced
possible that new groupings will enter the Jogorku Kenesh.
revolutions that ousted authoritarian-leaning presidents,
first in 2005 and again in 2010. A new constitution adopted
Human Rights: According to the U.S. State Department,
in 2010 converted the country to a semi-parliamentary
major human rights concerns in Kyrgyzstan include torture
system and imposed a one-term limit on presidents, who are
and arbitrary detention, inadequate judicial independence,
elected directly via universal suffrage and serve for six
severe restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of
years. The prime minister, nominated by the parliamentary
the press, and corruption. In 2015, the State Department
majority and appointed by the president, shares executive
recognized imprisoned activist Azimjon Askarov with its
power. Kyrgyzstan’s unicameral parliament, the Jogorku
Human Rights Defender Award, leading to significant
Kenesh (“Supreme Council”), has 120 members; deputies
friction in the U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relationship. Askarov
are elected to five-year terms in a closed-list proportional
died in prison on July 24, 2020, possibly of COVID-19.
electoral system.
In June 2020, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament passed a law that
would enable authorities to censor websites containing
Political landscape: In recent years, the ruling Social
information they determined to be untruthful and require
Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) has moved to
internet service providers to turn user data over to
consolidate its position, using state resources to pressure
government agencies on request. After the bill sparked
political opponents and civil society. Although Kyrgyzstan
protests and drew criticism from international observers, the
enjoys a greater degree of political pluralism than its
president returned it to the legislature for revision. Draft
Central Asian neighbors, in the assessment of the
bills that would impose financial reporting requirements on
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
“political parties are cha
nongovernmental organizations and restrict workers’ right
racterized by the personalities
to organize have also drawn international criticism.
leading them, rather than by their platforms, which overlap
significantly.” Governing coalitions are frequently unstable,
Terrorism: Although terrorist attacks within Kyrgyzstan
and the prime minister has been replaced 12 times since the
are rare, about 800 Kyrgyz nationals travelled to Syria and
2010 revolution. Kyrgyzstan’s political landscape is
Iraq to join the Islamic State or other terrorist groups; more
shifting due in part to an ongoing feud between President
than 200 are estimated to have died over the course of the
Sooronbai Jeenbekov (in office since 2017) and his
Syrian conflict. Government plans to repatriate Kyrgyz
predecessor and former patron, Almazbek Atambayev (in
citizens, primarily women and children, were disrupted by
office 2011-2017), which has led to a split in the SDPK. In
unrest in Iraq and Turkey’s October 2019 military incursion
June 2020 Atambayev was sentenced to 11 years and 2
into northern Syria. Some 300 Kyrgyz nationals have
months in prison on corruption-related charges. He also
returned to the country, and about 50 have been imprisoned.
faces murder charges stemming from an August 2019 law
Foreign fighters from Central Asia remain an international
enforcement raid on his compound that left one member of
the security services dead.
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Kyrgyz Republic
concern due to their ongoing participation in armed groups
and has allocated about $1 million to support Kyrgyzstan’s
active in Syria and Afghanistan.
COVID response.
The Kyrgyz Republic at a Glance
Foreign Policy and U.S. Relations
Foreign policy: Bishkek maintains close political ties with
Land area: 199,951 sq. km. (slightly smaller than South
Moscow and is generally seen as the most Russia-friendly
Dakota)
government in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan hosts four Russian
Population: 6.5 mil ion (2020 est.)
military installations, including Kant Air Base. In recent
Ethnicities: 73.6% Kyrgyz, 14.8% Uzbek, 1.6% Ukrainian, 5.3%
years, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have made strides
Russian, 6.3% other (2020)
towards resolving decades-old border disputes, although
clashes periodically break out. Tensions on the partially
Languages: Kyrgyz (official), Russian (official)
undemarcated Kyrgyz-Tajik border also periodically erupt
GDP/GDP per capita (2019): $8.5 bil ion/$1,323
into violence. Kyrgyzstan is a member of numerous
Data from the World Bank and the National Statistical Committee of the
multilateral organizations, including the Shanghai
Kyrgyz Republic.
Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security

Treaty Organization.
Economy
U.S. Relations: The United States was among the first
Trade: Kyrgyzstan’s 1998 accession to the WTO helped
countries to recognize Kyrgyz independence following the
establish the country as a hub for the re-export of Chinese
collapse of the Soviet Union. From 2001 to 2014, the
goods. Gold is Kyrgyzstan’s main export commodity and is
United States operated a Transit Center at Manas, just
primarily produced by the Canadian-owned Kumtor gold
outside the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, in support of U.S.
mine, which accounted for about one-tenth of GDP in 2019.
military operations in Afghanistan. U.S. relations with
The large informal economy is estimated at up to 24% of
Kyrgyzstan deteriorated under President Atambayev, at
GDP. Kyrgyzstan has been a member of the Russia-led
least in part due to Russian pressure. U.S.-Kyrgyzstan
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) since 2015, but
relations have improved somewhat under current President
accession has proven controversial domestically because
Jeenbekov. Although security cooperation has waned since
EAEU membership introduced new regulatory hurdles
2014, the State Department is seeking to develop bilateral
while failing to confer some of the expected benefits.
cooperation in combatting terrorism and extremism and
promoting regional stability. Other U.S. priorities in
Chinese investments: China has supported several large-
Kyrgyzstan include supporting a more inclusive and
scale infrastructure projects in Kyrgyzstan, financed
accountable democracy and improving the country’s
primarily through concessional loans, as part of Beijing’s
business environment.
Belt and Road Initiative. China’s Export-Import Bank owns
almost 50% of Kyrgyzstan’s roughly $4 billion of foreign
U.S. Foreign Assistance: In 2015 the Kyrgyz government
debt, according to official figures. The expanding Chinese
terminated the bilateral cooperation agreement (BCA) that
economic presence in Kyrgyzstan has sparked controversy
facilitated the provision of U.S. humanitarian and technical
and protests, which have sometimes turned violent.
economic assistance to Kyrgyzstan. Aid programs have
continued, however, with $37 million appropriated in
Economic dependence on Russia: Kyrgyzstan is one of
FY2019. According to the State Department, the United
the most remittance-dependent economies in the world,
States has provided $1.2 billion in assistance to Kyrgyzstan
with remittances, predominantly from Russia, accounting
over the past 20 years. U.S. officials have been involved in
for roughly 30% of GDP in 2019. As of 2019, there were an
ongoing efforts to conclude a new BCA.
estimated 640,000 to 800,000 Kyrgyz citizens in Russia,
accounting for over 20% of Kyrgyzstan’s working-age
Travel Restrictions: In January 2020, the Trump
population and rendering the Kyrgyz economy vulnerable
Administration suspended the issuance of most immigrant
to external shocks from downturns in the Russian economy.
visas to Kyrgyz citizens as part of its expansion of the
travel restrictions introduced by Executive Order 13780 of
COVID-19: The ongoing pandemic has had a significant
March 6, 2017, citing Kyrgyzstan’s failure to comply with
negative impact on Kyrgyzstan’s economy and is straining
information-sharing criteria and deficiencies in the security
the country’s under-resourced healthcare system. The
of Kyrgyz passports. Kyrgyzstan’s introduction of
National Bank projects a 4% decline in GDP in 2020
biometric passports was delayed in 2019 as the result of a
(previous forecasts had predicted 3.4% growth in 2020;
corruption investigation, and Kyrgyz passports are
GDP growth has averaged 4% since 2014). The World
notoriously easy to forge or obtain through illegal means.
Bank estimates that remittances to Kyrgyzstan will fall
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the
significantly in 2020 as a consequence of the pandemic.
travel restrictions, stating that they caused “significant
Additionally, large numbers of people either returning from
damage” to U.S.-Kyrgyz relations and noting that more
abroad or unable to migrate for work will likely aggravate
than 80 countries have yet to introduce biometric passports.
unemployment and place additional stress on the country’s
Both U.S. and Kyrgyz authorities have expressed
social services. Kyrgyzstan has received emergency
willingness to cooperate on addressing the passport
financial assistance from international financial institutions,
deficiencies.
and the Kyrgyz government has requested debt relief from
China. The United States Agency for International
Development has donated personal protective equipment
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Kyrgyz Republic

IF10304
Maria A. Blackwood, Analyst in Asian Policy


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10304 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED

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