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Wednesday 2 December 2015

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan derives its name from a word in the Kyrgyz language meaning “we are forty.” This is in reference to the forty clans of Manas, the national hero of Kyrgyzstan, which unified to form the country.

The sun on Kyrgyzstan's flag has 40 rays in reference to  for the number of tribes united by Manas to fight against the Mongols.


 Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991, following the failed August 19-21 failed coup in Moscow. 

The Supreme Council of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan adopted a law on the "Declaration on State Independence of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan". Because of this, the Kyrgyz Republic was declared an independent state. Kyrgyzstan officially adhered to the principles of international law, and cooperation between peoples. 

The declaration of independence was met with widespread celebrations in Kyrgyzstan. People took to the streets to celebrate their new-found freedom. The government of Kyrgyzstan quickly set about establishing its own institutions and laws.

August 31st is Independence Day in Kyrgyzstan, marking the country’s independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991.

In 1993, the first constitution was adopted, which has changed several times in 20 years. In the years since independence, Kyrgyzstan has had two revolutions, each putting the first two Presidents of Kyrgyzstan in exile in Russia and Belarus respectively.

Violent protests started in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on April 7, 2010, in response to perceived corruption and rising living expenses, eventually resulting in the collapse of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's government.

Sooronbay Jeenbekov was elected President of Kyrgyzstan on October 15, 2017 in the first peaceful transfer of power in the country's history. He resigned on October 15, 2020 following a week of protests after the 2020 parliamentary election

Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south west and China to the east. It is farther from an ocean than any other nation. At a minimum of 1620 miles (2610 kms) from any ocean, it is the most land-locked state in the world.

Kyrgyzstan’s capital is Bishkek, with a population of 874,400. The city began as a caravan rest stop called Pishpek on the Silk Road.

Ala-Too Square

Mountains cover over 80% of Kyrgyzstan.

Issyk-Kul Lake is the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca.

Ethnic Kyrgyz make up the majority of the country's 5.7 million people, followed by significant minorities of Uzbeks and Russians.

The majority of the population (64 percent) are nondenominational Muslims.

The official language, Kyrgyz, is closely related to the other Turkic languages, although Russian remains widely spoken, a legacy of a century-long policy of Russification.

Kyrgyzstan is 90% consonants (there is only one vowel).

The Kyrgyzstan currency is the som, which is divided into 100 tyiyn.

The Kyrgyz for “one” is “bir” pronounced “beer”.

A popular drink in Kyrgyzstan is “kumyz” which is made from fermented horse milk.

Another popular drink in Kyrgyzstan is green tea which is drunk from bowls.

Source Daily Express

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