Home to the sole U.S. forward operating base into Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan maintains strong ties to Russia. With a compromised press, a bankrupted economy and intense religious tensions, the country is in danger of rolling back its few democratic advances.
Images from Kyrgyzstan
Published March 15, 2007
Kyrgyzstan, a small, mountainous country in Central Asia, is a new democracy, struggling to maintain reforms. Surrounded by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China, the country is home to the sole U.S. forward operating air base into Afghanistan. Struggling with extreme poverty and rampant corruption, Kyrgyzstan maintains strong relations with Russia and China. Islam is a growing influence in the country with many young people turning to mosques and Islamic schools to provide services the government can't. After a democratic revolution in 2005, Kyrgyzstan has seen many rollbacks to authoritarian rule.
Project
Alexandra Poolos, for the Pulitzer Center
Project
Grantee
Alexandra Poolos has over nine years of international reporting experience. She covered the Balkans for Radio Free Europe, reporting on the Kosovo conflict and the fall of Slobodan Milosevic. She...
