Category: Kyrgyzstan
Leaving the island: Japarov’s campaign to silence independent media
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kyrgyz Republic has been considered an island of democracy in a largely autocratic region. However, the latest administration has spent the… [...]
Saving Snow Leopards: how scientists fight for the survival of a species
Snow leopards – an exclusively Asian species of large mammals of the cat family – live on the territory of 12 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,… [...]
How is Kyrgyzstan celebrating Nooruz in 2024?
Everyone in Kyrgyzstan is looking forward to a warm and sunny spring after a long and cold winter. Nooruz marks the astronomical start of the spring, or spring equinox,… [...]
Inside Bishkek’s Metal Boom: Portrait of a Music Pioneer in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek is home to a small but vibrant metal scene. In the still largely traditional Kyrgyz society, local metal artists often struggle to find an audience, produce… [...]
Queer life under pressure in Kyrgyzstan
The situation of queer people in Kyrgyzstan has worsened in recent years. Repressive laws and negative portrayals in the media are putting the community under increasing pressure. At the… [...]
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“Peace Clubs” are gaining popularity among Kyrgyz youth
The Kyrgyzstan-based non-governmental organization "Institute for Peace and Development" is shaping a new generation of peacebuilders through "Peace Clubs" in more than 150 Kyrgyz schools, contributing to the development of… [...]
Insecurity, Harrassment, and Lack of Inclusion: Young Women’s Experiences with Safety in Bishkek public spaces
Urban spaces in Bishkek, including pedestrian areas and public transportation, remain uncomfortable for citizens, especially women, leaving them feeling vulnerable and insecure due to a lack of facilities, poor… [...]
In Central Asia, the Freedom of Press is in Decline
Almost every year, countries in Central Asia are placed at the bottom of NGO Reporters Without Borders’, annual ranking for the freedom of press. Every country has dropped in… [...]
Artists and activists raise awareness for Bishkek’s waste problem
In the far north of Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek, waste piles up every day in what residents call the polygon, a chaotically managed municipal landfill. Men and women work in… [...]
Ukraine criticizes Central Asian presidents’ participation in Moscow’s May 9 parade
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has issued a strong statement condemning the presence of Central Asian presidents at the May 9 parade held… [...]
Central Asian presidents invited to attend Russian Victory Day Parade
Russian president Vladimir Putin has invited his counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to attend the annual Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9. [...]
Kyrgyz-Tajik border: both sides hope for quick reopening
The Kyrgyz and Tajik populations, plagued by a conflict that has yet to be resolved, must learn to work together. Tensions on the borders have increased in recent years. [...]