status to Kyrgyz

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)

Government Kyrgyzstan

Country name: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Republic local
long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy

Government type: republic

Capital: Bishkek

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and
1 city* (shaar); Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek),
Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol
Oblasty (Karakol) note: administrative divisions have the same names as
their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by
President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February
1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense
of the legislature

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since
28 October 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Nikolay TANAYEV
(since 22 May 2002); note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV resigned
on 22 May 2002 when five demonstrators were killed in clashes with
the police cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
on the recommendation of the prime minister election results: Askar
AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek
TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%; note - election marred by serious
irregularities elections: president reelected by popular vote for a
five-year term; elections last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held
November or December 2005); prime minister appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists
of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative Assembly
(35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of vote
by party - NA%; percent of vote by party - NA; and Legislative Assembly -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - total seats
by party in the Supreme Council were as follows: Union of Demo