Kyrgyzstan was an important ally of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan by hosting a key US military base from 2001 to 2014. Over the past 10 years, Kyrgyzstan has dramatically improved voting procedures and the competitiveness of its national and local elections. None of its Central Asian neighbors have followed its lead as there's no real political competition in any of them. Hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz citizens work and live in Russia, easing pressure on Kyrgyzstan to create new jobs. The Kyrgyz people's contribution to democracy in Central Asia and beyond cannot be underestimated.

Source: CNN October 11, 2020 01:07 UTC