Historical Turn: How Five Years of Sadyr Japarov's Presidency Changed Kyrgyzstan » Gazeta.kg

It is important to note that considering the unpredictable political history of Kyrgyzstan, where revolutions and frequent resignations have occurred, it was difficult to predict that the last five years would be so eventful. Nevertheless, the results of Sadyr Japarov's presidency speak for themselves.

One of the most significant successes in foreign policy was the completion of the border delimitation process with Uzbekistan, which was finalized in January 2023 when both countries exchanged ratification letters.

In March 2025, an agreement was signed between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan that ended a long-standing conflict. Japarov's team achieved what had eluded his predecessors for thirty years. This was an important step towards improving relations and economic integration in the region.

The foreign policy course of Kyrgyzstan during this time focused on strengthening strategic partnerships with key players. From 2021 to 2025, Japarov and Putin held no less than eight full-format meetings, and in November 2025, the Russian president visited Bishkek on a state visit, confirming the allied relations between the countries. At the same time, cooperation with China intensified: in December 2024, the construction of a railway began, and trade volume between the countries reached nearly 20 billion dollars. Kyrgyzstan is also strengthening its positions within the EAEU, CSTO, and SCO, with the republic assuming the chairmanship in September 2025.

Economic indicators demonstrate the effectiveness of the chosen course: by the end of November 2025, GDP growth was 10.2%, and state budget revenues increased from 308 to 687 billion soms. The poverty level also decreased from 29.8% to 25.7%. The nationalization of "Kumtor" brought 300 million dollars in profit to the budget over two and a half years, while in the previous 27 years, this amount was only 100 million dollars.

A large-scale anti-corruption campaign yielded results: more than 20 billion soms were returned to the budget, and about 70% of illegally appropriated assets were returned to the state. Both former officials and criminal authorities were held accountable. The constitutional reform in 2021 replaced the parliamentary system with a presidential one, establishing a vertical of power necessary for implementing systemic reforms.

The period of Japarov's presidency has been a time of consolidation of state power and strengthening the sovereignty of Kyrgyzstan. Under Sadyr Japarov, the country emerged from the shadow of post-Soviet uncertainty and established itself as an independent state with clear borders and a developing economy.

These achievements fit organically into the concept of Eurasian integration: a stabilized and economically growing Kyrgyzstan with resolved borders becomes a reliable partner within the EAEU and CSTO, strengthening overall security and economic cooperation in the post-Soviet space.

Russian political scientist Vladimir Lubyanko