Journey to the Kyrgyz Living Abroad

The Kyrgyz are one of the oldest peoples who lived in Central Asia and roamed the vast expanses of Asia. In the last millennium, they finally settled in the modern territory of Kyrgyzstan, which became their historical homeland. However, many Kyrgyz lived abroad, and connections with them were hardly maintained.

The acquisition of independence by Kyrgyzstan, the broad democratization of public life, and the freedom of the media changed the situation. Kyrgyz living in foreign countries received the news of our state's sovereignty with great joy. In some places where Kyrgyz lived, festive celebrations were held, and national games were conducted. “Hearing that Kyrgyzstan became an independent state, we embraced and cried with joy,” wrote the Kyrgyz from China in congratulatory messages.

Considering the desire of the citizens of the republic to learn about their compatriots abroad, and in response to the aspirations of Kyrgyz living abroad to visit their historical homeland, the World Kurultai of Kyrgyz was held in Bishkek in August 1992. Kyrgyz from China, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, European countries, and even distant Australia came to it. The feelings of people, torn from their homeland by fate, are indescribable. The Kyrgyz who arrived on the land of their ancestors kissed the ground, bowed to it, sending greetings from those who remained in another country, which became their second homeland, and cried from happiness.

Kyrgyz of China. Since ancient times, the Eastern Turkestan has been inhabited by Kyrgyz. The city of Manas, Lake Manas, and many other names of localities, rivers, and lakes related to the Kyrgyz are clear evidence of this.

In 1758, the Qing Empire captured Eastern Turkestan and established Chinese rule there. However, the Turkic peoples living in these lands — Uighurs, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Uzbeks — did not want to be under Chinese rule. Starting from the second half of the 18th century, they repeatedly rose up to fight for freedom and always found support from their fellow tribesmen — the Kyrgyz of Ala-Too. Outstanding figures from the historical past of Kyrgyzstan, such as Kubat-biy, Atantay, Taylak, Suranchi biy, Turdumamat, Alimbek datka, Kurmandzhan datka, and her sons, repeatedly led their warriors in the struggle for the independence of the Turkic peoples inhabiting Eastern Turkestan, including the Kyrgyz.

Here is what the genealogist Saparbek Zakirov wrote: “When it comes to the Chinese Kyrgyz, the Kyrgyz living east of Kashgar immediately come to mind — Kokshaal, Ak-Suu, Kuldja, Urumqi, and further — Ak-Chiya, Uluu Chata, Ak-Tuu, Artysha, Tekesa, Lopa, Irtysh. The Chinese Kyrgyz are mainly the tribes of the right and left wings. From the group of ichkiliks, only the noyguts live here.” Historical legends about the tribes of noyguts inhabiting the Kokshaal region and their folk heroine — the girl-hero Janil Myrza are still alive in the memory of the people.



After the suppression of the uprising in 1916, many Kyrgyz fled to China to join their fellow tribesmen living there. The tribes of Kyrgyz who survived the extermination by the tsarist troops remained in China until 1924. In the 1918-1930s, participants of the Basmach movement, as well as those who suffered during collectivization and repression, fled there.

According to the latest data, about 130,000 Kyrgyz live in China. The territory of compact residence of the Kyrgyz is the Kyzyl-Suu Kyrgyz Autonomous District. Kyrgyz schools operate there. Children study Kyrgyz and Chinese languages. Some Kyrgyz have graduated from higher educational institutions in Beijing. Newspapers, magazines, and textbooks are published in the Kyrgyz language (in Arabic script). Some educational and other literature comes from Kyrgyzstan. A large part of the youth expresses a desire to study in educational institutions of our country.

In China, there lives a famous manaschi Jusup Mamai. He recorded and published his version of the epic “Manas,” consisting of seven volumes. The historian Anvar Baytur, having studied the history of the Chinese Kyrgyz through Chinese written sources, wrote a book about it. It was also published in the Kyrgyz language in Bishkek.



Over the years of independence of the Kyrgyz Republic, compatriots living on both sides of the mountain-divided border have begun to establish relationships.

Kyrgyz of Tajikistan. You have probably heard of the Kyrgyz living in Tajikistan? In four districts of neighboring Tajikistan — Jergital, Murghab, Shartuz, and Yavon — Kyrgyz live.

“The Kyrgyz population of Tajikistan mainly resides in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, in the mountain river valleys and gorges of the Pamir Mountains. The Pamir is the northwestern end of the highest mountain system in the world, the Tibetan-Himalayan. To the north, the Pamir borders the Alai Mountains. The habitat of the Kyrgyz of Tajikistan closely resembles the natural conditions of their native Kyrgyz lands. Most likely, during the demarcation of the republics of Central Asia, these mountainous areas, long inhabited by Kyrgyz, remained in Tajikistan,” writes genealogist Saparbek Zakirov. Written historical sources report that the Kyrgyz lived in the places of the current settlement of Kyrgyz in Tajikistan since ancient times. This is also evidenced by the names of localities, various legends, and traditions. The Tajik Kyrgyz belong to the same clan associations that reside in the Leylak, Chon-Alai, Kadamjai, and Batken districts of Kyrgyzstan.

Currently, more than 106,000 Kyrgyz live in Tajikistan. In the ails where they reside, there are Kyrgyz schools. Textbooks, newspapers, and magazines come from Kyrgyzstan. Graduates of secondary schools receive higher education in Kyrgyzstan. During the Soviet era, graduates of Kyrgyz universities were specifically sent here to teach children the Kyrgyz language.

In the 1990s, a civil war broke out in Tajikistan, and some Kyrgyz, seeking refuge, moved to Kyrgyzstan and settled in the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Chui regions.



Kyrgyz living in Uzbekistan. Many genealogical traditions relate to the ancient Kyrgyz settlements in the territories of present-day Samarkand, Andijan, Namangan regions, the Fergana Valley, Pamir, Alai, Tian Shan, Issyk-Kul, along the rivers Chui and Ili. According to these traditions, the Kyrgyz have lived here since ancient times and considered this land their ancestral homeland.

Today, Kyrgyz live in almost all regions of Uzbekistan. The majority inhabit the Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Jizzakh, Kokand, Tashkent, and Samarkand regions. Kyrgyz ails are mainly located in mountainous areas, retaining Kyrgyz names.

According to the latest information, there are about 160,000 Kyrgyz in Uzbekistan. Kyrgyz children are educated in Kyrgyz schools. Currently, there are about 40 Kyrgyz schools operating in Uzbekistan. Textbooks and teaching aids for them come from Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz living in Uzbekistan, known for their hard work, do everything to strengthen and develop the economy of the country that has become their home.

Kyrgyz in Turkey and other countries. In Turkey, Kyrgyz live compactly around Lake Van and in villages near the city of Adana.

The Kyrgyz living on the shores of Lake Van are mainly migrants from Afghanistan, who settled here with the help and support of Rahmankul-khan. The Kyrgyz villages near Adana are mostly inhabited by Kyrgyz from Osh, who fled from the oppression of the Bolsheviks to China and then moved to Turkey.



In total, about 4,000 Kyrgyz live in Turkey. Since Kyrgyzstan gained sovereignty, they have had the opportunity to communicate with their homeland and send youth to study in Kyrgyzstan. For its part, Kyrgyzstan has expressed its readiness to help them with teaching staff for teaching the Kyrgyz language in local schools.

The diaspora of Afghan Kyrgyz who did not migrate to Turkey still lives in such mountainous areas as the Afghan Small Pamir and Big Pamir. They have expressed their intention and desire to move to Kyrgyzstan.

A significant group consists of Kyrgyz living in Russia. Before the declaration of independence of Kyrgyzstan, about 10,000 Kyrgyz lived in various regions of Russia. Currently, thousands of Kyrgyz conduct trade in many cities of Russia. Although they are officially not registered anywhere, they have lived there for years. According to some data, there are over 500,000 of such Kyrgyz.

There are reports of small Kyrgyz diasporas in Europe and America, in Pakistan, Australia, and Jordan.