Archive sections: ‘For the Record’
Despite the general impression that the Soviet Union was a highly organized and tightly controlled society, it experienced several inter ethnic conflicts, of which the events known as “Osh 1990” was only one. There were, for example, four large scale violent conflicts which erupted in the Caucuses at about the same time.
Under the Soviet regime, content of the “News” was strictly controlled – and almost anything that could be considered to be negative was duly censored. As a result there was little known about episodes of social unrest and disorder within the Union, yet alone in the wider world beyond the country’s borders.
April 7th, 2010, and once again Kyrgyzstan hits the headlines in the world’s media. Disorder, violence and bloodshed provide good material for journalists.
Bubusara was a famous ballerina who in her later years trained several generations of dancers and was one of the founders of the Kyrgyz ballet school. Born into a peasant family in the village of Tash-Tube (not far from Bishkek) on 17 May, 1926, Bubusara Beishenalieva went to study in the Leningrad School of Choreography [...]
It is said that professional theatre began in Kyrgyzstan with the creation, in 1926, of a musical-drama studio in Frunze, (as Bishkek was then known). The first, locally produced, musical-drama (“Altyn Kyz” – “Golden Girl”) was staged in 1926 quickly followed by a number of others authored by local artistes, based on traditional folklore, such as “Adzhal Orduna” – “Not [...]
The list of official holidays in Kyrgyzstan is an eclectic mix of secular celebrations (such as New Year), the commemoration of national events (such as Independence Day and Constitution Day), holidays held over from the days of the Soviet Union (such as Army Day, International Women’s Day, May Day, Victory Day and the anniversary of the [...]
Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country –and where there are mountains, there is almost inevitably snow. Snow attracts more for all sorts of reasons. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, and offering opportunities for taking beautiful photographs, snow attracts skiers, snowboards and the like.
The Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association “Hospitality Kyrgyzstan” (KCBTA), is the country’s driving force behind CBT best practices and innovation in the country. The association’s objective is to improve living conditions in remote mountain regions by developing a sustainable and wholesome ecotourism model that utilizes local natural and recreational resources.
Traditional crafts form an essential and integral part of all cultures. In Central Asia there are many different forms of handicraft which are found both throughout the region as a whole, and others which are distinctive to one particular nationality or group.
The collapse of the Soviet Union caused economic and social crisis for many people. Elderly people were among the most heavily affected. Many of them were abandoned by their children who emigrated to seek employment abroad, or did not have children. Vulnerable, lonely people could not make ends meet and to pay for their rent, [...]
