The President of the International Institute for Religious Freedom, Thomas Schirrmacher, visited Kyrgyzstan, with a particular focus on the situation of the country’s indigenous people. He visited communities living in yurts in remote areas at altitudes of up to 3,200 metres and received first-hand reports about their situation. He also visited major mosques and the seat of the Grand Mufti, and studied the situation of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in the country. In addition, he received first-hand reports from a wide range of church leaders. For reasons of confidentiality and security, no details of these meetings and their outcomes can be made public.
One reason for the President’s visit was Kyrgyzstan’s growing role in international affairs. The country has been elected for the first time as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2027–2028.
In July 2026, H.E. Dr Damirbek Osmonov, Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, represented Kyrgyzstan at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Global Road Safety in New York. Osmonov is a distinguished cardiologist and medical researcher. Before entering government, he worked as an interventional cardiologist in Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and served as a visiting professor at Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University. He has authored more than 40 scientific publications and is a Fellow of both the European Society of Cardiology (FESC)and the American College of Cardiology (FACC).
