BP GEOGRAPHIC

Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Its history goes back to 1825 when a fortress named Pishpek was established to control local caravan routes and to collect tribute from Kyrgyz tribes, it existed until 1860. Eight years later a Russian settlement was founded on the site. It grew into a city and was renamed Frunze in 1926 after Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze. In 1936 it became the capital of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. After the end of the Soviet Union and independence of Kyrgyzstan as Kyrgyz Republic in 1991 the city was given its current name Bishkek. Its centre is located around the Ala Too Square, in the background the National Museum and the Manas Statue can be seen