BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan is a country where Russian influence is still very strong. While other global players such as Europe and the West are increasingly vying for influence in the region, conflicting interests can be observed.
With an average age of just 27, Kyrgyzstan's largest demographic group consists of those who have come of age in the post-Soviet era. These young individuals are on a mission to challenge prevailing norms and seek their unique identities amid a backdrop of rapid change and escalating geopolitical tensions.
Once celebrated as an oasis of democracy in a region dominated by autocratic regimes, Kyrgyzstan is now struggling with a worrying shift towards authoritarianism. A diminishing sense of freedom and the rise of increasingly conservative values make it difficult for young people to express their true selves.
Photo's: © Thijs Broekkamp
PRINT/ONLINE
- Europa is op grondstoffenjacht in Centraal-Azië, De Groene Amsterdammer, 30/04/2025.
- De nieuwe beloftes van de populist, De Groene Amsterdammer, 07/05/2025.
RADIO
- De foute vrienden van Europa in Centraal-Azië, NPO Radio 1 - Bureau Buitenland, 03/04/2025.
- Kirgistan: de post-Sovjet generatie, NPO Radio 1 - Bureau Buitenland, 28/08/2023.
COUNTRIES
- Kyrgystan
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
