Bishkek, January 28, 2026. /Kabar/. Given Kyrgyzstan’s turbulent political history, marked by repeated revolutions and early resignations of leaders, few expected the past five years to be so consequential. However, the results of President Sadyr Zhaparov’s tenure speak for themselves.
One of the most significant foreign policy achievements was the historic settlement of border issues. In January 2023, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan completed the delimitation of their state border and exchanged instruments of ratification.
In March 2025, the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed a final border agreement, marking the end of a long-standing conflict. What previous leaders had failed to achieve over three decades was accomplished by Sadyr Zhaparov’s team within a few years. The Gordian knot of Central Asian borders, long considered insoluble, was cut, opening new opportunities for economic integration and sustainable development in border regions.
Foreign policy during this period has focused on strengthening strategic partnerships with key powers. From 2021 to 2025, Japarov and Russian President Vladimir Putin held at least eight full-scale talks. In November 2025, the Russian leader paid a three-day state visit to Bishkek, reaffirming the allied nature of bilateral relations. At the same time, cooperation with China has intensified. In December 2024, construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway was launched, while bilateral trade turnover approached 20 billion U.S. dollars. Kyrgyzstan has also strengthened its position within the EAEU, CSTO, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, assuming the SCO chairmanship in September 2025.
Economic indicators further confirm the effectiveness of the chosen course. In the first 11 months of 2025, GDP growth reached 10.2 percent, state budget revenues increased from 308 billion to 687 billion soms, and the poverty rate declined from 29.8 percent to 25.7 percent. The nationalization of the Kumtor gold mine generated around 300 million U.S. dollars in profit over two and a half years, compared to approximately 100 million dollars earned over the previous 27 years, returning the strategic asset to full state control.
A large-scale anti-corruption campaign has also delivered tangible results. More than 20 billion soms have been returned to the state budget, and about 70 percent of illegally acquired assets have been recovered. Former officials and criminal figures have been brought to justice. The 2021 constitutional reform replaced the parliamentary system with a presidential one, establishing a centralized governance model aimed at ensuring systemic transformation.
Overall, the five years of Sadyr Zhaparov’s presidency have become a period of consolidation of statehood and strengthening of national sovereignty. Kyrgyzstan has moved beyond post-Soviet uncertainty and positioned itself as a stable state with clearly defined borders, a growing economy, and a consistent foreign policy.
These achievements align with the broader framework of Eurasian integration. A stable and economically developing Kyrgyzstan with regulated borders is emerging as a reliable partner within the EAEU and CSTO, contributing to regional security and economic cooperation.
Russian political scientist Vladimir Lubyanko