Kurdistan’s flag flies in Kyrgyzstan for 20 years
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - There are almost no relations between the Kurdistan Region and Kyrgyzstan, yet the Kurdish flag flies proudly in the centre of the Krygyz capital Bishkek. The flag has been displayed alongside world states for two decades, but has gone largely unnoticed by most Kurds worldwide.
The decision to fly the flag was made following the countless efforts of Ramazan Seyidov of the Kurdish Association in Kyrgyzstan.
"In 2004, we went to the Kurdistan Region with a delegation. There we met Nechirvan Barzani. He was prime minister at the time. We talked a lot about the lives of the Kurds of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia," Seyidov said.
"I said, 'We want to build a [Kurdish] base there’. He said, 'I don't think it will happen'. I replied, 'We live there, and we know that nation well, we know that state well. If you say yes, we are ready’,” Seyidov recalled of his conversation with Barzani, who he said gave them his blessing.
“We came back. We worked with the state for three to four months. The flag was officially raised,” he said.
Kyrgyzstan declared its independence in 1991, after the collapse of the Union of Soviet. The country currently has diplomatic relations with 123 countries, but only 83 have opened embassies in Bishkek.
About 20-25 thousand Kurds live in Kyrgyzstan. There is no representation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), but Kurds here are proud that their flag is officially raised in the capital city and that the government of Kyrgyzstan has on multiple occasions refused to lower the flag, despite protests from neighboring countries, notably Turkey and Iran.
Many Kurds living in Central Asia and the Caucasus today arrived here during the Ottoman-Persian war of the 15th and 16th centuries, or fled Ottoman-era persecution.
Shortly after World War II, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin deported many of the Caucasian Kurds to Central Asian republics. It is believed that many died of disease and starvation.
After the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, many Kurds moved to Russia or Europe for economic reasons.
Without a country of their own, there is a large Kurdish diaspora many of whom fled conflict or persecution at home. An estimated half a million Kurds are living in former Soviet nations.
Despite centuries of exile, many Kurds still speak their native tongue. Others, however, deny their Kurdish roots.
The decision to fly the flag was made following the countless efforts of Ramazan Seyidov of the Kurdish Association in Kyrgyzstan.
"In 2004, we went to the Kurdistan Region with a delegation. There we met Nechirvan Barzani. He was prime minister at the time. We talked a lot about the lives of the Kurds of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia," Seyidov said.
"I said, 'We want to build a [Kurdish] base there’. He said, 'I don't think it will happen'. I replied, 'We live there, and we know that nation well, we know that state well. If you say yes, we are ready’,” Seyidov recalled of his conversation with Barzani, who he said gave them his blessing.
“We came back. We worked with the state for three to four months. The flag was officially raised,” he said.
Kyrgyzstan declared its independence in 1991, after the collapse of the Union of Soviet. The country currently has diplomatic relations with 123 countries, but only 83 have opened embassies in Bishkek.
About 20-25 thousand Kurds live in Kyrgyzstan. There is no representation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), but Kurds here are proud that their flag is officially raised in the capital city and that the government of Kyrgyzstan has on multiple occasions refused to lower the flag, despite protests from neighboring countries, notably Turkey and Iran.
Many Kurds living in Central Asia and the Caucasus today arrived here during the Ottoman-Persian war of the 15th and 16th centuries, or fled Ottoman-era persecution.
Shortly after World War II, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin deported many of the Caucasian Kurds to Central Asian republics. It is believed that many died of disease and starvation.
After the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, many Kurds moved to Russia or Europe for economic reasons.
Without a country of their own, there is a large Kurdish diaspora many of whom fled conflict or persecution at home. An estimated half a million Kurds are living in former Soviet nations.
Despite centuries of exile, many Kurds still speak their native tongue. Others, however, deny their Kurdish roots.