The official languages are Kyrgyz, which is a Turkic language, and Russian. In view of the large proportion of the Russian population in Kyrgyzstan, Russian is legally protected as the national language. Most employees in the tourism industry also speak English.
The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes the feast day of Orozo Ait, Muslims are forbidden from eating, drinking or smoking from sunrise to sunset, which leads to interruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening hours of shops and authorities) and therefore to Restrictions for travelers may come.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day, and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is restricted or e.g. T. even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes it must be taken into account that meals and drinks during Ramadan may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in respect of Islamic traditions.
Some interruptions may also occur during the Orozo Ait. This festival, like the Kurban Ait, is indefinite and can last from 2-10 days depending on the region.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be imported duty-free into Kyrgyzstan in hand luggage (persons aged 18 and over): 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco products/tobacco; 3 liters of alcoholic beverages or beer; perfume for personal use; Other goods for personal use up to a value of €500 and a total weight of up to 25 kg (by land) or up to a value of €10,000 and a total weight of up to 50 kg (by air). Upon entry, tourists must fill out a customs declaration form, which must be retained until departure. This entitles the importation of personal effects, including currency and valuables, which must be listed on the form.
Prohibited Imports
Medicines and fresh fruit and vegetables, graphic or written material directed against Kyrgyzstan. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
Avenue Blanc 51, 3rd St.
Geneva
Switzerland
+41 (0)22 707 92 20-25. Consular Dept.: +41 (0)22 707 92 22-25. Embassy of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
Invalidenstrasse 3/8
Vienna
Austria
+43 (0)1 535 03 79.
Mon-Fri 09.30-17.00 (appointments only by telephone agreement).
Embassy of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
Embassy branch in Bonn; Consulate in Frankfurt/M.; Honorary consulates in Bremen, Hamburg, Wolfratshausen and Sehnde.
Otto-Suhr-Allee 146
Berlin
Germany
+49 (0)30 34 78 13 38. Consular Dept.: +49(0)30 36 41 18 60.
http://www.botschaft-kirgisien.de
http://www. botschaft-kyrgisien.de Mon, Wed, Fri 09:00 – 13:00 and Tue, Thu 14:00 – 17:00. Available by phone: Mon, Wed, Fri 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Tue, Thu 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Business
Business etiquette
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1300 (Mar – Oct). Government agency office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300 (Nov – Feb).
Business contacts
Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Breite Strasse 29, 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 206 16 71 14. Website: www.ostausschuss.de Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Foreign trade in Southeastern Europe, Eastern Europe/Central Asia Wiedner Hauptstrasse 63, 1045 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 59 09 00 43 22. Website: wko.at/aussenwirtschaft United Chamber of Commerce c/o DPS Communications GmbH, Kasernenstrasse 11, 8004 Zurich Tel. +41 (0)44 226 90 61. Website: www.jointchambers.ch Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Erkindik Boulevard 58, 720040 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Tel. +996 (0)312 66 12 27, +996 (0)312 62 42 35. Website: www.minfin.kg/ru Industrial and Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Kievskaja 107, 720001 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Tel.+996 (0)312 61 38 72, +996 (0)312 61 38 75. Website: en.cci.kg
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, international telephone calls can be made from telephone offices, which are usually attached to the post office. You can also call abroad from the reception of some hotels. All long-distance calls abroad are switched by the long-distance exchange in Kyrgyzstan. The area code for Bishkek is 312. Local calls from private lines are free, but hotels sometimes charge a small fee. For long-distance calls between the former member states of the Soviet Union, first dial »8« and wait for another dial tone. Then you dial the area code of the city and the desired subscriber number.
Mobile phone
GSM 900. Main network operator is Bitel Ltd (Internet: www.bitel.kg). The reception/transmission range is limited to the largest cities and their surroundings.
Internet
The main internet providers are VPM Internet Services, Asiainfo (website: www.asiainfo.kg), ElCat (website: www.elcat.kg) and Intra Net (website: www.intranet.kg). There are internet cafes in Bishkek.
Post office
Postal items to Western Europe take between two weeks and two months to arrive. You can buy envelopes with stamps in the post office. Postal items to Kyrgyzstan should be addressed in the following order: country zip code, city, street, house number and finally the name of the addressee. Opening times: Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00. Visitors can also use the post offices in the major hotels.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
