About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 [1] (March 19, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/kgzrpblc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Inforrning the legislative debate since 1914 Updated March 19, 2025 Kyrgyz Republic Overview The Kyrgyz Republic (commonly known as Kyrgyzstan) is a mountainous, landlocked country that borders the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China), Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (see Figure 1), and maintains close ties with Russia. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991. Kyrgyzstan was long considered the most democratic country in Central Asia, and has a vibrant civil society and a higher degree of press freedom than found elsewhere in the region. In recent years, however, international observers have voiced concerns about democratic backsliding in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in light of the political upheaval that followed the country's 2020 parliamentary elections, which were annulled following widespread protests over alleged electoral fraud. Corruption is pervasive, and political institutions remain weak. In 2021, the nongovernmental organization Freedom House classified Kyrgyzstan as Not Free for the first time in 11 years; it has since maintained that designation. Some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about democratic backsliding in Kyrgyzstan, government pressure on independent media, including the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and allegations that Kyrgyzstan is serving as a conduit for Russian sanctions evasion. Political Background After Kyrgyzstan experienced revolutions that ousted authoritarian-leaning presidents in 2005 and 2010, a new constitution adopted in 2010 imposed a single six-year term limit on the presidency and converted the country to a semi- parliamentary system in which the prime minister shared executive power. In 2021, two referendums initiated a return to a presidential system; resulting constitutional changes transferred a range of powers from Kyrgyzstan's unicameral legislature to the president and decreased the size of the parliament from 120 to 90 members. Amid protests following the disputed October 2020 parliamentary elections and the resulting power vacuum, Sadyr Japarov, a former member of parliament who had been serving a lengthy prison sentence he maintains was politically motivated, quickly became both prime minister and acting president. Japarov was elected president in January 2021 with 79% of the vote amid 40% turnout, lower turnout than in previous elections. In the concurrent referendum, 84% of voters supported reverting to a presidential system. A new constitution approved in a second referendum in April 2021 significantly expanded executive power at the expense of the legislature and allows a president to serve two five-year terms. Some observers questioned the legitimacy of these constitutional changes, as they were undertaken by a parliament whose mandate expired in October 2020. Some analysts posit that Kyrgyz voters may be drawn to a strong presidency due to long- standing frustrations with corruption and the ineffectiveness of parliament. The first parliamentary elections under the new constitution took place in November 2021. The new constitution established a new government body, the People's Kurultai, but did not specify how it was to function. Subsequent legislation delineated the Kurultai as an assembly of 700 delegates with the authority to propose legislation and petition for the removal of government ministers. Japarov argues that the Kurultai promotes transparency and government accountability, while some critics see it as an attempt by the executive to further consolidate power at the expense of parliament and weaken civil society. Kyrgyzstan is next slated to hold parliamentary elections in 2026, with a presidential election scheduled to follow in 2027. Japarov has expressed his intention to seek a second term as president. Figure I. Map of the Kyrgyz Republic source: Uraphic created by LKJ Human Rights According to the U.S. State Department, major human rights concerns in Kyrgyzstan include torture and arbitrary detention, inadequate judicial independence, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and corruption. In 2015, the State Department recognized imprisoned activist Azimjon Askarov with its Human Rights Defender Award, leading to significant friction in the U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relationship. Askarov died in prison in July 2020. The State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report rated Kyrgyzstan as a Tier 2 Watch List country, assessing that the government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. In May 2024, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that Kyrgyzstan be added to the State Department's Special Watch List under the International Religious Freedom Act for the first time, citing increased repression and restrictive legislation. Some observers have expressed concern that recent legislation in Kyrgyzstan threatens Kyrgyz civil society and

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most