The Republic of Kyrgyzstan, an independent state since August 31, 1991, is a member of the UN and of the C.I.S. It was the last state of the Union Republics to declare its sovereignty. Capital: Bishkek (formerly Frunze). Population of 4.54 million. ,Originally part of the Autonomous Turkistan S.S.R. founded on May 1, 1918, the Kyrgyz ethnic area was established on October 14, 1924 as the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Region within the R.S. F.S.R. Then on May 25, 1925 the name Kara (black) was dropped. On December 12, 1990, the name was then changed to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 SOM = 100 Tyiyn ,,