Kyrgyzstan was once considered Central Asia's oasis of democracy. But the regime is increasingly hardline, and repression of political opponents and media is growing.
Capital: Bishkek
Population: 4.6 million
Leader: President Askar Akayev
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A controversial referendum in January concentrated huge power in his hands after protracted civil unrest and violent clashes between demonstrators and police.
Foreign firms mine for gold in the remote Kirghiz mountains. In January, masked men armed with clubs forced their way into a once-secret chemical plant and stole 1,000 pounds of europium oxide, a powder used in nuclear reactors.
Mr Akayev's son is married to the daughter of Kazakh leader Mr Nazarbayev.