Kyrgyzstan

National name: Kyrgyz Respublikasy

Government
Constitutional republic

Geography
Kyrgyzstan (formerly Kirghizia) is a rugged country with the Tien Shan mountain range covering approximately 95% of the whole territory. The mountaintops are perennially covered with snow and glaciers. Kyrgyzstan borders Kazakhstan on the north and northwest, Uzbekistan in the southwest, Tajikistan in the south, and China in the southeast.

Historical Background
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Nationwide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV.

Name

Kyrgyz Republic

Capital

Bishkek

Government

Parliamentary republic-President Roza Otunbayeva - Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev-Speaker of Parliament Akhmatbek Keldibekov

Area

Total 199,900 km2 (86th) 77,181 sq mi

Population

2009 estimate 5,482,000[3] (110th) -  1999 census 4,896,100

GDP (PPP)

2010 estimate-Total $12.746 billion[4]

GDP (nominal)

2010 estimate-Total $5.122 billion[4]

Currency

Som (KGS)

Time zone

KGT (UTC+6)