Sixty-year-old Scott Friday, a homeless Briton, has been living in a garage in the center of Bishkek for several months, where he was taken in by kind people. Despite the lack of electricity and the severe cold, he is determined to survive the winter.
A young local resident named Ulan helped Scott set up his temporary home by bringing items and trying to make the space more comfortable. Ulan continues to visit him and bring food.
We met with Scott to learn about his journey to Kyrgyzstan, the reasons that forced him to leave his homeland, and how he manages to survive far from home.
Leaving the homeland: Scott's reason for departure
Scott left England without money and a clear plan. His goal was to reach China, starting his journey with a ferry from Dover to the French port of Calais.
His departure cannot be called a pursuit of a better life — it was a forced step by a man who feels he has been treated unfairly.
Dreams and reality: from cadet to colony
In his youth, Scott was a promising student, and teachers predicted a career for him as an officer in the Royal Navy. However, his life changed drastically after a conflict with the police at the age of 16, after which he ended up in a juvenile detention center.
This experience became a turning point for him: his surroundings gradually began to turn away from him, including friends and family.
Eventually, he found himself on the streets, living in shelters and associating with people struggling with addictions. Scott was never able to create a family, as his main goal became survival.
Having never had his own home and experiencing strained relationships with relatives, he decided to leave England, driven by a sense of despair and loneliness.
Journey to Asia: through Turkey and Iran
On February 14, almost two years ago, Scott began his journey. He traveled through Europe, then through Turkey and Georgia.
His attempt to enter Armenia was unsuccessful due to the military conflict with Azerbaijan. The next route to Iran was also closed to Britons, and he had to turn back.
His next stop was Kazakhstan, which he reached by plane, flying from Tbilisi to Almaty and spending two weeks there.
During this time, his social benefits in the UK were stopped. He was counting on the next payment to cross the border into China, but the money stopped coming at the most inconvenient time.
Bishkek: cold, garage, and support
Scott arrived in Kyrgyzstan in June 2025, spending his last money on a bus from Almaty. The journey from England to Bishkek took about four months.
He speaks warmly of life in Bishkek: the locals show him respect, and it is thanks to their support that he survives in a garage without electricity. Ulan, the young man, helped set up his temporary home and regularly brings him food.
An incident occurred when his phone was stolen. However, local acquaintances quickly found the thieves and returned the device to him, albeit damaged.
Scott rarely consumes alcohol and only in company. Speaking about friends in Bishkek, he notes that it is too strong a word; rather, there are responsive and kind people around him.
Life in waiting: hope and prayers
Last summer, Scott applied for political asylum, but in August he was denied with a recommendation to contact international organizations. However, he does not trust such structures, believing that they do not protect the interests of ordinary people.
He is currently in uncertainty; he needs to file an appeal, but he does not know how to start.
A serious problem remains the lack of electricity, which makes it impossible to boil tea or charge his phone, and also creates discomfort from the cold in the garage.
Scott rates his health as tolerable, but he does not know what diseases may be developing inside him; overall, he feels relatively normal.
He eats what he can find or what kind people leave for him and tries to be careful with food.
When asked if he would choose a different life if he had the opportunity, Scott says no. He believes he is under God's protection and fulfilling His will, and everything that happens has meaning.
He is not afraid of ending his life in a garage; he is afraid of only one thing — losing faith.
Scott Friday
Looking back on his journey, Scott feels no regrets.
If he were to obtain documents and official status, he would not seek a "normal" life but would dedicate himself to helping those who find themselves in the same situation.
If I had documents, I would not seek a "normal" life. I would focus on helping those who are in the same plight.
Scott Friday
