conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

KG

republic

Bishkek

6 oblastlar (singular - oblast) and 1 city*
(singular - shaar); Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek),
Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty,
Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name
following in parentheses)

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31
August (1991)

adopted 5 May 1993
note: amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national
referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the
president at the expense of the legislature

based on civil law system

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Jumabek IBRAIMOV (since NA December
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held November or
December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote -
Askar AKAYEV 75%; note - elections were held early which gave the two
opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have
orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom
was a major rival

bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh
consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the
Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 5 February
1995 (next to be held 20 February 2000); Legislative Assembly - last
held 5 February 1995 (next to be held 20 February 2000)
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - not all of the 70
seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result,
run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice
yearly; Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; note - not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5
February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at
later dates
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections

Supreme Court, judges are appointed for 10-year terms
by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president;
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

Agrarian Party ; Agrarian
Party of Kyrgyzstan ; Banner National Revival Party or
ASABA ; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan or PKK
; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or
DDK ; Dignity Party ;
Fatherland or Alta Mekel Party ; Justice Party
; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of
Free Kyrgyzstan) or ErK ; Movement for the
People's Salvation ; Mutual Help Movement or
Ashar ; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE
; Peasant Party ; Republican Popular
Party of Kyrgyzstan ; Social Democratic Party or
PSD

Council of Free Trade Unions;
Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights ; National Unity
Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, WTrO
(applicant)

chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:  (202) 338-5141
FAX:  (202) 338-5139

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne M. SIGMUND
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone:  (3312) 22-29-20, 22-27-77
FAX:  (3312) 22-35-51

red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40
rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays
run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt