Beat Memo: Kyrgyzstan
By Hans Ibold and Jyldyz Kuvatova Posted Apr 1 2006
Kyrgyz Republic or Kyrgyzstan, is a developing country located in Central Asia, west of China, bordering China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Background
The capital is Bishkek and the official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian. The country is dominated by the Tian Shan, Pamir and Alay mountain ranges with an average elevation of 2,460.63 feet.
The territory of Kyrgyzstan is 77,182 square miles. Kyrgyzstan is the only state in the world that has five enclaves, which makes territorial disputes with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan an issue, especially in bordering regions of the country. The climate is continental with significant local variations.
Kyrgyzstan is the first Commonwealth of Independent States country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization.
Politics
Kyrgyz ethnic groups or tribes have historically been part of other political entities. They were not aware of independent political status until 1991. In the 1990s and early part of the 21st century, major opposition parties formed several unstable coalitions. A major opposition bloc, For People’s Power, was formed in 2004. The abolition of both party list voting for parliament and runoff elections hampered the election efforts of opposition parties. A fundamental realignment of parties occurred due to the resignation of President Askar Akaev. New political parties are being created in opposition to the incumbent Bakiev. The opposition parties are predominantly by members of parliament.
Religion and Culture
The country is 75 percent Muslim and 20 percent Russian Orthodox. Kyrgyz makes up 64.9 percent of the ethnic groups in the country, Uzbeks account for 13.8 percent of the population while 12.5 percent are Russian.
Emphasis is placed on controlling citizens’ mobility, thoughts and attitudes. This control applies to everyone in the country. Every citizen is required by law to have a registered place of residency called a “propiska,” which is permanently stamped in one’s passport. Each time a person changes address, they are required to reregister with local authorities.
Education
In 2004 the literacy rate in Kyrgyzstan was 98.7 percent. Education in the country is compulsory for nine years. Children have to go to school between the ages of 7 and 15.
Media
The media in the country is not free. Although the constitution guarantees freedom of the press and prohibits censorship, government restrictions exist. The government heavily supports pro-government newspapers and broadcast stations. In the early part of the 21st century, several of these outlets were controlled by people who had ties to former President Akaev’s family.
There are approximately 40 to 50 regularly printed newspapers and magazines in the country, most of them private but not all independent. The papers with significant resources and influence are based in Bishkek, are Biskek-focused and mostly in Russian. The more influential papers are Vecherny Bishkek, Moya Stolista Novosti, AKI Press, Kabar, Litsa,Slovo Kyrgyzstana and Res Publica. In Bishkek you can find the English-language Times of Central Asia and Bishkek Observer.
Broadcast outlets seem to still be more heavily controlled by the government. If staying in a hotel or apartment in Bishkek, access to satellite television is frequent. However, in rural areas, access to satellite television is rare. Television outlets are KTR, which is state television, NBT, KOORT, Pyramid, which is an independent outlet but currently under threat of being taken over by a company with alleged ties to to the current President Bakiev’s family, and NTS, a brand-new independent outlet.
The most affordable source of information is radio. Preference is given to the Western media, such as Deutsche Velle and the BBC. Kyrgyz officials are still wary of Western media. Foreign reporters oftentimes do not get accreditation to some events in the “White House.”
Communication
Poor landline infrastructure in rural areas makes cell phones the best way to communicate reliably. Reception can be lost in mountainous regions, which are plentiful in this alpine country.
As of February, the Kyrgyz mobile subscriber base is at 560,000. Of the total, the subscriber base of GSM mobile operator Bitel stood at 510,000, TDMA mobile operator Katel had 35,000 users and covers territory where 90 percent of the Kyrgyzstan population resides, and CDMA mobile operator Fonex had 15,000 users.
The frequency band needed for a cell phone when traveling to Kyrgyzstan is 900. The international code is +960.
Bishkek offers Internet access at numerous cafes and hotels frequented by Westerners. Internet cafes can also be found in villages, but outside of Bishkek the connections are less reliable. Power outages are common in rural areas.