[20210125]IF10304_吉尔吉斯共和国.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated January 25, 2021Kyrgyz RepublicOverview The Kyrgyz Republic (commonly known as Kyrgyzstan) is a mountainous, landlocked country that borders China (see Figure 1) and maintains close ties with Russia. Formerly a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991. As a parliamentary republic that holds contested elections, Kyrgyzstan has long been considered the most democratic country in Central Asia, with a vibrant civil society and a higher degree of press freedom than found elsewhere in the region. Corruption is pervasive, however, and political institutions remain weak. In recent years, international observers have voiced concerns about democratic backsliding in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in light of the political upheaval that followed the annulment of the countrys 2020 parliamentary elections. Some Members of Congress have also expressed concerns about Kyrgyz government pressure on independent media outlets, including the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Because Kyrgyzstan is an impoverished country that relies heavily on foreign remittances, the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic