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Bishkek (population 700,000), founded in 1878 and from 1926-1991 known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik commander Mikhail Frunze, is the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
In Kyrgyz, a Bishkek is a churn used to make fermented mare's milk. It is a city of wide boulevards and marble public buildings combined with Soviet-style apartment blocks and other buildings.
History
Originally a fortress of the Kokhand khanate, Bishkek was founded in 1825. In 1864, the fortress was razed, but the site was redeveloped in 1877 by the Russian government. In 1926, the city was renamed Frunze after Mikhail Frunze, a local leader who helped quiet rebellions against the Bolshevik government.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan achieved independence in 1991, and the city was again renamed Bishkek. Today, it is vibrant, relatively modern city, and is home to the Ganci U.S. Airbase. (Russia has an airbase of its own in nearby Kant.)
Sights
- The Tien-Shan Mountain range provides a backdrop to the city.
- Several statues of Vladimir Lenin remain, the largest being opposite the parliament building in a leafy park. A rare equestrian statue of Lenin still stands in a large park across from the train station.
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