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Updated January 25, 2021
Kyrgyz Republic
Overview
While no date has been set for new parliamentary elections,
The Kyrgyz Republic (commonly known as Kyrgyzstan) is
a snap presidential vote and a controversial constitutional
a mountainous, landlocked country that borders China (see
referendum on the country’s form of government took place
Figure 1) and maintains close ties with Russia. Formerly a
on January 10, 2021, raising concerns about the future of
constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan
democracy and rule of law in Kyrgyzstan. Japarov was
became independent in 1991. As a parliamentary republic
elected president with 79% of the vote amid 40% turnout,
that holds contested elections, Kyrgyzstan has long been
lower turnout than in previous elections; 84% of voters
considered the most democratic country in Central Asia,
supported reverting to a presidential system. The specifics
with a vibrant civil society and a higher degree of press
of the planned constitutional reform remain unclear.
freedom than found elsewhere in the region. Corruption is
pervasive, however, and political institutions remain weak.
Figure 1. Map of the Kyrgyz Republic
In recent years, international observers have voiced
concerns about democratic backsliding in Kyrgyzstan,
particularly in light of the political upheaval that followed
the annulment of the country’s 2020 parliamentary
elections. Some Members of Congress have also expressed
concerns about Kyrgyz government pressure on
independent media outlets, including the U.S.-funded Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Because Kyrgyzstan is an
impoverished country that relies heavily on foreign
remittances, the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic is causing significant economic
strain.
Political Background
Source: Graphic created by CRS
Government: After Kyrgyzstan experienced revolutions
that ousted authoritarian-leaning presidents in 2005 and
2010, a new constitution adopted in 2010 imposed a one-
Human Rights: According to the U.S. State Department,
term limit on the presidency and converted the country to a
major human rights concerns in Kyrgyzstan include torture
semi-parliamentary system in which the prime minister
and arbitrary detention, inadequate judicial independence,
shares executive power. Kyrgyzstan’s unicameral
severe restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of
parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh (“Supreme Council”), has
the press, and corruption. In 2015, the State Department
120 members; deputies are elected to five-year terms in a
recognized imprisoned activist Azimjon Askarov with its
closed-list proportional electoral system.
Human Rights Defender Award, leading to significant
friction in the U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relationship. Askarov
Recent Political Developments: Kyrgyzstan plunged into
died in prison on July 24, 2020, possibly of COVID-19.
political upheaval in the wake of disputed October 4, 2020,
In June 2020, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament passed a law that
parliamentary elections that heavily favored pro-
would have enabled authorities to censor websites
establishment parties. Opposition parties alleged
containing information they determined to be untruthful and
widespread irregularities, including vote-buying and voter
require internet service providers to turn user data over to
intimidation; these assertions were deemed credible by
government agencies on request. After the bill sparked
international election observers. After mass protests broke
protests and drew criticism from international observers, the
out, Kyrgyzstan’s Central Election Commission annulled
president returned it to the legislature for revision. Draft
the results on October 6, resulting in a power vacuum as the
bills that would impose financial reporting requirements on
prime minister and other officials announced their
nongovernmental organizations and restrict workers’ right
resignations. Sadyr Japarov, a former Member of
to organize have also drawn international criticism.
Parliament known for his nationalist views who had been
serving a lengthy prison sentence on kidnapping charges he
Terrorism: Although terrorist attacks within Kyrgyzstan
maintains were politically motivated, quickly emerged as a
are rare, roughly 800 Kyrgyz nationals travelled to Syria
leading contender for interim prime minister after he was
and Iraq to join the Islamic State or other terrorist groups;
freed by protestors. President Sooronbai Jeenbekov
more than 200 are estimated to have died over the course of
announced his resignation on October 15, one day after
the Syrian conflict. Government plans to repatriate Kyrgyz
Japarov was confirmed as prime minister. Although by law
citizens, primarily women and children, were disrupted by
the presidency should have passed to the parliamentary
unrest in Iraq and Turkey’s October 2019 military incursion
speaker, he declined the office, leaving Japarov as both
prime minister and acting president.
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Kyrgyz Republic
into northern Syria. Some 300 Kyrgyz nationals have
and allocated over $3.5 million to support the country’s
returned to the country, and about 50 have been imprisoned.
COVID-19 response in 2020.
The Kyrgyz Republic at a Glance
Foreign Policy and U.S. Relations
Foreign policy: Kyrgyzstan maintains close political ties
Land area: 199,951 sq. km. (slightly smaller than South
with Moscow and is generally seen as the most Russia-
Dakota)
friendly government in Central Asia. The country hosts four
Population: 6.5 mil ion (2020 est.)
Russian military installations, including Kant Air Base. In
Ethnicities: 73.6% Kyrgyz, 14.8% Uzbek, 5.3% Russian, 1.6%
recent years, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have made strides
Ukrainian, 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 Almazbek
GDP. Kyrgyzstan has been a member of the Russia-led
Atambayev (in office 2011-2017), at least in part due to
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) since 2015, but
Russian pressure, but relations improved somewhat under
accession has proven controversial domestically because
former President Jeenbekov (in office 2017-2020).
EAEU membership introduced new regulatory hurdles
Although security cooperation has waned since 2014, the
while failing to confer some of the expected benefits.
State Department is seeking to develop bilateral
cooperation in combatting terrorism and extremism and
Chinese investments: China has supported several large-
promoting regional stability. Other U.S. priorities in
scale infrastructure projects in Kyrgyzstan, financed
Kyrgyzstan include supporting a more inclusive and
primarily through concessional loans, as part of Beijing’s
accountable democracy and improving the country’s
Belt and Road Initiative. China’s Export-Import Bank owns
business environment.
nearly half of Kyrgyzstan’s roughly $4 billion of foreign
debt, according to official figures. The expanding Chinese
U.S. Foreign Assistance: In 2015, the Kyrgyz government
economic presence in Kyrgyzstan has sparked controversy
terminated the bilateral cooperation agreement (BCA) that
and protests, which have sometimes turned violent.
facilitated the provision of U.S. humanitarian and technical
economic assistance to Kyrgyzstan. Aid programs have
Economic dependence on Russia: Kyrgyzstan is among
continued, however, with $37 million and $31 million
the world’s most remittance-dependent economies, with
allocated in FY2019 and FY2020, respectively, and $20
remittances, predominantly from Russia, equaling roughly
million requested for FY2021. According to the State
30% of GDP in 2019. As of that year, there were an
Department, the United States has provided $1.2 billion in
estimated 640,000 to 800,000 Kyrgyz citizens in Russia,
assistance to Kyrgyzstan over the past 20 years. U.S.
accounting for over 20% of Kyrgyzstan’s working-age
officials have been involved in ongoing efforts to conclude
population and rendering the Kyrgyz economy vulnerable
a new BCA.
to downturns in the Russian economy.
Travel Restrictions: In January 2020, the Trump
COVID-19: The ongoing pandemic has had a significant
Administration suspended the issuance of most immigrant
negative impact on Kyrgyzstan’s economy and is straining
visas to Kyrgyz citizens as part of Presidential Proclamation
the country’s under-resourced healthcare system. According
9983, which expanded travel restrictions introduced by
to the National Statistical Committee, GDP declined 8.6%
Executive Order 13780 of March 6, 2017, citing
in 2020 (previous forecasts had predicted 3.4% growth in
Kyrgyzstan’s failure to comply with information-sharing
2020; GDP growth has averaged 4% since 2014). The
criteria and deficiencies in the security of Kyrgyz passports.
World Bank estimates that remittances to Kyrgyzstan fell
Kyrgyzstan’s introduction of biometric passports was
12% in the first eight months of 2020. Additionally, large
delayed in 2019 as the result of a corruption investigation;
numbers of people either returning from abroad or unable to
new passports are slated for issuance in 2021. Kyrgyzstan’s
migrate for work will likely aggravate unemployment and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the travel restrictions,
place additional stress on the country’s social services.
stating that they caused “significant damage” to U.S.-
Kyrgyzstan has received emergency financial assistance
Kyrgyz relations and noting that more than 80 countries
from international financial institutions, and the Kyrgyz
have yet to introduce biometric passports. President Biden
government has requested debt relief from China. The U.S.
revoked Proclamation 9983 on January 20, 2021.
Agency for International Development donated personal
protective equipment for Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare workers
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Kyrgyz Republic
IF10304
Maria A. Blackwood, Analyst in Asian Policy
Disclaimer
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