You are cordially invited to an event for young professionals
hosted by the Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI)
and Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
on the evening of Thursday, September 16th.

Can Democracy Take Root in Kyrgyzstan?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

6:30 – 7:00 PM
Cocktail Reception

7:00 – 8:30 PM EST
Panel and Discussion

Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty
1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 4th Floor

The Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan, the only country in the world to host both Russian and American military installations, has been rocked by political instability and murderous violence over the past year. In April, a mob overthrew President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, and in June, ethnic riots targeting minority Uzbeks resulted in the deaths of some 400 people and the displacement of 400,000. As it prepares for elections scheduled for October, Kyrgyzstan's authoritarian neighbors are watching closely in fear that the country's hopes of becoming the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia may be realized.

Our panelists will be James Kirchick, Writer at Large for RFE/RL and a contributing editor at The New Republic who has visited Kyrgyzstan twice since April and will be returning soon to cover the elections; Erica Marat, a Research Fellow at the Central Asia Caucasus Institute and analyst for Voice of America's Russian Service; and Jeff Goldstein, Senior Policy Analyst for Eurasia at the Open Society Foundation. Steve LeVine, who is a contributing editor for Foreign Policy Magazine and author of the blog The Oil and the Glory, will moderate the panel.

About the Foreign Policy Initiative 

FPI is a non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FPI seeks to promote an active U.S. foreign policy committed to robust support for democratic allies, human rights, a strong American military equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening America's global economic competitiveness. The organization was founded in 2009 and is led by Executive Director Jamie Fly. FPI’s Board of Directors consists of Eric Edelman, Robert Kagan, William Kristol, and Dan Senor. Visit our website at www.foreignpolicyi.org for more information.

About Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

RFE/RL (www.rferl.org) broadcasts uncensored news and informaiton in 28 languages to countries where a free press is either banned by the government or not fully established. RFE/RL's broadcasts are heard across 11 times zones each week, by nearly 18 million listeners in 21 countries including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan , Pakistan and Russia. Created in1950, RFE/RL is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).