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• Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia bordering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. Kyrgyzstan, which defines itself as a democratic republic, declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991.

  In February 2009, Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said he will close the U.S. Manas Air Base in his country, citing U.S. failure to pay higher rent for the military facility and the death of a Kyrgyzstani man there. U.S. officials said on February 4, 2009, that they had not been notified about the closure.Telegraph: US troops ordered out of Kyrgyzstan after Russia deal (February 4, 2009) BBC News: Kyrgyzstan moves to shut US base (February 4, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Capital: Bishkek
  2. Government: Republic
  3. Population: 5,284,149 (July 2007 estimate)
  4. Currency: Som (KGS)
  5. Exchange Rate: 34.9
  6. Official Language: Kyrgyz and Russian
  7. President: Kurmanbek Bakiyev
  8. Declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991
  9. Borders China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

• Manas Air Base

  The U.S. Manas Air Base, which opened in Kyrgyzstan in 2001, was originally set up to help the U.S. military with its war on terror against members of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. In February 2009, a Kyrgyzstan government spokesman said "a draft decree on terminating the agreement on the US airbase has been sent to parliament." U.S. officials said they were unaware of plans by Kyrgyzstan President to close the base. A U.S. embassy spokesman said, "We have been in discussions with Kyrgyz authorities on the future of Manas air base. These discussions will continue."BBC News: Kyrgyzstan moves to shut US base (February 4, 2009)

• Kyrgyzstan Background

  Kyrgyzstan defines itself as a democratic republic, though the system is still in development. When five people protesting the arrest of an opposition leader were shot and killed in 2002, riots broke out across the country, forcing a referendum. The vote, which took place in 2003 and was widely considered to be rigged, weakened the constitutional courts and parliament, and centralized control of the government behind the president.

  In 2005, parliamentary elections led to more protests and a bloodless coup, known as the Tulip Revolution. The interim government, under Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was criticized for failing to deliver the constitutional reform it promised. Despite help from organizations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, Kyrgyzstan's economy has stagnated since independence. The government has implemented several reforms to foster the development of a new, free market, economy. These efforts were recognized with an invitation to membership in the World Trade Organization, on December 20, 1998.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Vitali Klitschko | Russian Federation | Kazakhstan | Uzbekistan | Tajikistan | China | Soviet Union | Kurmanbek Bakiyev

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