According to recent findings of Kyrgyz and Chinese historians, Kyrgyz history dates back to 201 BC The earliest descendents of the Kyrgyz people, who are believed to be of Turkic descent, live in the northeastern part of current Mongolia. Later, some of their tribes migrate to the region that is currently southern Siberia and settle along the Yenisey River, where they live from the 6th until the 8th centuries. They spread across what is now the Tuva region of the Russian Federation, remaining in that area until the rise of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, when the Kyrgyz began migrating south. In the 12th century islam becomes the predominant religion in the region. Present-day Kyrgyzstan becomes part of the State of the Krakhanides in the tenth century. The area is conquered by the Mongols in the thirtheenth century.

During the 15th-16th centuries, the Kyrgyz settle in present-day Kyrgyzstan. The area becomes part of Dzungaria in 1626. The southern part of the area comes in the early 19th century under the control of the Khanate of Kokand, and the territory was formally incorporated into Russia in 1876. Between 1862 and 1885 Kokand is destroyed by the Russians. Soviet power is established in the region in 1918. In 1924 the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast is created within Russia, reorganized into the Kyrgyz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1926. In 1936 the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic is established as a full Union Republic of the USSR. The early 1990s bring change to the Kyrgyz SSR. The Kyrgyzstan Democratic Movement (KDM) develops into a significant political force with support in parliament. In 1990 Askar Akajev is elected to the presidency, bringing younger, reform-oriented politicians into power. In 1990 the supreme soviet votes to change the name to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.

After the attempted coup in Moscow, the supreme soviet of Kyrgysztan declares independence from the USSR in 1991 as the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, renamed Kyrgyz Republic in 1993. That year Askar Akajev runs unopposed and is elected president. Akajev appears wholeheartedly committed to the reform process. His government gets increasing authoritarian. In 1995 he changes the constitution and a new bicameral parliament is formed. After the elections, this parliament is dominated by non-partisans. Akajev is reelected with wide support over two opposing candidates in 1995. Akajev uses government resources and state-owned media to carry out his campaign. The 2000 elections are considered by the OSCE to have failed to comply with commitments to free and fair elections. The same goes for the presidential elections of that year.