Over 50,000 Granted Kyrgyz Citizenship Since 1995

Kyrgyz authorities say more than 50,000 foreigners have been granted Kyrgyz citizenship since 1995.

The secretary of the state citizenship commission, Nurbek Kasymbekov, said on September 30 that the majority of the naturalized citizens were ethnic Kyrgyz from neighboring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Thousands of ethnic Kyrgyz fled the civil war in Tajikistan in the 1990s.

Kasymbekov said ethnic Kyrgyz from neighboring countries continue to move to Kyrgyzstan to seek permanent residency and citizenship.

Nearly 3,400 foreigners obtained Kyrgyz citizenship between January and July 2013.

Based on reporting by 24kg and knews.kg