Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country with a people of old nomadic culture. Its contemporary history is marked by uprising—notably against the Russian Empire in 1916, and most notably for ousting three of its first four presidents after it gained independence when the Soviet Union collapsed. It is also plagued with poverty, corruption, and restrictive laws.

Despite gradual improvements, Kyrgyzstan remains the second-poorest country in Central Asia with 20 percent of the population living below the poverty line. Remittances comprise around 30 percent of the GDP since wages are higher abroad—nearly one-third of working-age Kyrgyz live in Russia, with many others in Kazakhstan and elsewhere. Wide-scale corruption has hindered economic progress and public trust, while border conflicts have hindered diplomacy.

Though classically considered the freest Central Asian nation due to its laws and elections, freedom of speech and religion have declined rapidly over time. Harassment and arbitrary judicial action against journalists and political opposition are commonplace. Recently, parliament granted the president power to arbitrarily overturn constitutional court rulings, citing undefined “moral values” and “social conscience of the people” as justification.

Kyrgyzstan is over 90 percent Muslim—not accounting for non-adherent cultural Muslims and non-religious people—with a large remainder being Christian. Evangelical Christians make up roughly 0.3 percent of the total population, but living out their faith is often a challenge. Proselytizing is illegal, church registration requirements are prohibitive, and violence against non-Muslim Kyrgyz is commonplace in rural areas. Raids on religious communities and imprisonment of individuals are consistent threats.

After a revolution and ethnic clashes in 2010, our SWW students in Kyrgyzstan engaged in peacemaking and inter-ethnic reconciliation. As religious persecution continues, you are helping continue this SWW legacy. In 2023, you supported our SWW ministry training for 120 enrolled leaders, 59 of whom graduated from the full two-year program.