Gulaiym Ashakeeva is a correspondent in RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service.
Experts say the Central Asiatic frog population is being threatened by poachers in Kyrgyzstan. Since ancient times, the frog has been dried and used as a cure for joint pain, wounds, and ulcers. Despite being a protected species and illegal to sell, it is still commonly found in Kyrgyz markets.
Tajik and Kyrgyz officials are denying allegations that there have been ethnicity-based expulsions in their countries amid the recent violence on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, despite reports of people being sent home and others abused.
It's a world away from Disneyland. But Kyrgyzstan is in the midst of its own measles outbreak, spurred by a mix of bad information, conspiracy theories, and religion.
The Tablighi Jaamat, a conservative Sunni Islamic movement, has been conducting missionary work in Kyrgyzstan for years. But reports that the avowed pacifistic group is expanding its reach among impoverished youth by offering free education abroad is raising concerns among Kyrgyz authorities.
Kyrgyz officials have declared a state of emergency in the district surrounding the Canadian-owned Kumtor gold mine, which has been the target of massive protests by locals claiming the mine has poisoned their drinking water. The government itself has accused the mine of environmental violations and has used the issue to demand a new contract with the owners, Centerra Gold. But what's really known about the environmental impact of the mine?
Kyrgyz authorities say they are investigating concerns expressed by a number of families that their sons may have traveled to Turkey with the intention of joining the rebellion in Syria.
This week in Kyrgyzstan, a popular television presenter was kidnapped and her life threatened -- only to find out it was all a prank carried out by journalists from a local tabloid.
The United States wants Maksim Bakiev, the son of Kyrgyzstan's deposed president, extradited from Britain to face charges of insider stock trading. More details about the charges are emerging.
What's worse, livestock theft or bride kidnapping? In Kyrgyzstan, someone who steals a cow could go to prison for up to 11 years. But men who kidnap underage girls and force them into marriage run little risk of prosecution -- although current legislation does provide for a three-year sentence. That may be about to change -- at least a little bit.
A prominent activist in a spiritual movement that predates Islam has gone on trial in Kyrgyzstan charged with inciting religious and ethnic hatred.
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva has signed a law that allows foreigners to adopt children in Kyrgyzstan, thereby lifting a moratorium on international adoptions that was put in place in 2009 following media reports of alleged abuses.
