Introduction

Background

Kyrgyzstan, located in Central Asia, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and rich nomadic heritage. The territory that constitutes modern Kyrgyzstan was largely annexed by the Russian Empire in 1876. In 1916, the Kyrgyz people launched a significant uprising against the Tsarist regime, resulting in the deaths of nearly one-sixth of their population. In 1926, Kyrgyzstan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, ultimately gaining independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR. Major protests in 2005 and 2010 led to the removal of the nation’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Almazbek ATAMBAEV took the presidential oath in 2011. By 2017, ATAMBAEV had made history as the first president of Kyrgyzstan to complete a full term in office while adhering to constitutional term limits, voluntarily resigning at the conclusion of his tenure. He was succeeded by former prime minister and member of the ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbay JEENBEKOV, who won the presidential election in 2017, notable for being the most fiercely contested in the nation’s history, despite allegations of vote buying and misuse of state resources.

In 2020, widespread protests erupted in response to parliamentary election outcomes, resulting in JEENBEKOV's resignation and the elevation of Sadyr JAPAROV, who had been imprisoned, to the position of acting president. The following year, in 2021, the citizens of Kyrgyzstan formally elected JAPAROV as president and endorsed a referendum to transition the country from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In the same year, voters supported amendments to the constitution that centralized authority in the presidency. Pro-government parties gained a majority in the legislative elections of 2021. Ongoing issues facing Kyrgyzstan include the path of democratization, persistent corruption, strained regional relationships, vulnerabilities linked to climate change, border security challenges, and the risk of terrorist activities.