Kyrgyzstan — the homeland of a multinational people. The population of Kyrgyzstan is 5,776,570 people (January 2014). The main population of the country is 4,193,850 people or 72.6% — Kyrgyz. Kyrgyz people live throughout the country and dominate in most rural areas. The second largest group is Uzbeks — 836,065 people, who make up 14.5% of the population and are concentrated in the southwestern part of the country in border areas with Uzbekistan. Russians — 369,939 people, make up 6.4%, primarily concentrated in cities and villages in the northern part of the republic. Dungans — 64,565, Uyghurs — 52,456, Tajiks — 50,174, Turks — 40,953, Kazakhs — 33,701, Tatars — 28,059, Azerbaijanis — 18,946, Koreans — 16,807, Ukrainians — 14,485, Germans — 8,563. In addition, Kyrgyz land has historically and fatefully become a homeland for Jews, Chechens, Karachays, Ingush, Balkars, Kurds, Greeks, and representatives of many other peoples.
In the first half of the 19th century, alongside the Kyrgyz, only a small number of Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Kazakhs lived in Kyrgyzstan. In the second half of the century, representatives of Slavic peoples arrived from Russia: Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians. Germans also migrated here. Dungans and Uyghurs found refuge here after they revolted against Chinese feudal lords but were defeated and fled to escape retribution.
During the Soviet era, the number of settlers increased. In the 1920s and 1930s, Koreans were forcibly relocated here from the Soviet Far East. During the Great Patriotic War, trains carrying Chechens, Ingush, Karachays, Balkars, and Crimean Tatars came from the North Caucasus. In the 1960s and 1970s, workers from Russia came to develop the industry, many of whom remained here permanently, settling in the new place. After the war, a large number of Dungans and Uyghurs were resettled from China again. Thus, over the past 100 years, the national composition of the population of Kyrgyzstan has changed significantly.
Today, representatives of more than 80 nationalities live in the republic. Article 15 of the Constitution of the republic, adopted in 1993, states: “Everyone in the Kyrgyz Republic is equal before the law and the court. No one may be subjected to any discrimination, infringement of rights and freedoms on the grounds of origin, gender, race, nationality, language, religion, political and religious beliefs.”
Sharing joy and sorrow equally. The state cares about creating equal living conditions for all peoples, developing their native languages, national culture, and access to education, because history has shown that division and oppression of peoples based on national characteristics, severing strong ties and long-standing connections brings nothing but suffering. Only the unity and harmony of the peoples living in the republic can serve as the foundation for success in constructive endeavors. That is why the first President A. Akayev formulated the main idea of state policy in Kyrgyzstan regarding interethnic relations in such simple and universally understandable words: “Kyrgyzstan — our common home.”
The transition to new market relations, accompanied by the privatization of factories and enterprises, left many without work and led to an increase in unemployment and the spread of poverty. In such conditions, representatives of some nationalities were forced to leave the republic. In particular, since the early 1990s, thousands of citizens of Russian, Ukrainian, and German nationalities have moved to their historical homelands.
Those who remain share the burdens that have fallen upon them with Kyrgyz and other peoples and contribute to the rise of the republic's economy, believing that the future is with them. An independent Kyrgyzstan today is unimaginable without the hardworking and skilled farmers — Dungans, Uzbeks, Koreans, Tajiks. The development of the country's economy has also been significantly aided by Russians, Germans, and Ukrainians with their responsibility and accuracy in work, knowledge of the intricacies of technology and construction methods.
All the peoples of Kyrgyzstan actively participate in the socio-political life of the country — they participate in presidential elections, in the parliament - Jogorku Kenesh and other elected bodies, and make proposals and remarks during nationwide discussions of significant issues for the republic (referendums).
The Assembly of Peoples of Kyrgyzstan. The Assembly of Peoples of Kyrgyzstan, established in January 1994 at the first Kurultai of the peoples of the republic, plays a significant role in addressing issues related to the national interests of the peoples of Kyrgyzstan. At this forum, the charter and program of the Assembly were also adopted. The Assembly tirelessly works for civil peace, unity, and harmony among the peoples. Its activities are supported by the president and government of the country.
House of Friendship. In the very center of Bishkek, in the old building of the House of Government, is the House of Friendship. In this building once worked the first leaders of the republic, such outstanding figures as Abdykadir Orozbekov, Bayaly Isakiev, Torokul Aitmatov, who laid the foundations of the Kyrgyz state. Later, it housed the Historical Museum.
Various national cultural centers operate in the House of Friendship. About 30 such centers are registered in the republic. Each of them has separate premises where products, paintings, and exhibits reflecting the development of culture, customs, and everyday life of that people are displayed, and various events related to vital issues, national traditions, and meetings with compatriots living abroad are held. The House of Friendship embodies a true atmosphere of mutual understanding and friendship among the peoples inhabiting Kyrgyzstan.