This website is the result of the work done by the spring 2009 Historical Journalism class at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

This project was conceived, organized, and edited by Sam Tranum, who was then an Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at the American University of Central Asia. He has worked as a reporter at newspapers in the U.S., served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Turkmenistan (2004-2006), and earned a master's degree in international relations from the University of Chicago, focusing on American foreign policy in Turkmenistan.

The interviews were conducted, transcribed, and translated by 17 students from the American University of Central Asia: Nurshat Ababakirov, Maksat Annamuradov, Abdurahman Aripov, Akylbek Baltabaev, Kseniya Balybina, Dinara Davlembaeva, Gulzara Hayytmuradova, Dovlet Hojamuradov, Rayhon Jonbekova, Nariman Jumayev, Bahtiyar Kurambaev, Nazarbegim Muzaffarova, Maksat Nepesov, Azat Nepesov, Arslan Penjiyev, Dilbar Ruzadorova, and Murat Tuloberdiev.

About the Interviewers

Nurshat Ababakirov, who is from Osh, Kyrgyzstan, was a senior in the International & Comparative Politics Program at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) when he traveled to the Osh area to interview Madalbek Keneshov in Kara Sogot and Umut Aidarova in Kotormo. “The children of the interviewees expected somebody older than me to show up and do the interview. Some of them knew me as a kid and they gave me surprised looks, marveling how fast time goes by and that what they had experienced not so long ago had already became history. When the interview was over, they gave me a new shirt as a gift and thanked me for documenting their parents’ words.”

Maksat Annamuradov, who is from Turkmenistan, was a student in the International & Comparative Politics Program at AUCA when he interviewed Alexander Eropunov in Bishkek and traveled to Ak Bashat to interview Kaliyjan Januzakova.

 Abdurahman Aripov, who is from Andijan, Uzbekistan, was a sophomore in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when he traveled to the Osh area to interview Ilhomjan Karimov and Komiljan Djurabekov.

  Akylbek Baltabaev, who is from Kadamjai, Kyrgyzstan, was a sophomore in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when he traveled to Kadamjai to interview Pyotr Melenkov and Erjigit Shakirov.
  

Kseniya Balybina, who is from Kyrgyzstan, was a senior in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when she interviewed Galina Timoshenko in Bishkek.

  

Dinara Davlembaeva, who is from Kyrgyzstan, was a senior in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when she interviewed Mikhail Bibikov in Petrovka and Kurman-Ghali Karakeev in Bishkek.

  Gulzara Hayytmuradova, who is from Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan, was a sophomore in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications when she conducted her interviews, along with another interviewer, Dovlet Hojamuradov. They traveled to eastern Kyrgyzstan to interview Sulayka and Karagul Arpachiyev and Dugdurbai and Kashymkan Kachikeev. They also interviewed Joldosh Oskonbaev and Dilber Ejeke in Bishkek
  

Dovlet Hojamuradov, who is from Seidi, Turkmenistan, was a junior in the International & Comparative Politics Program at the American University of Central Asia when he conducted his interviews, along with another interviewer, Gulzara Hayytmuradova. They traveled to eastern Kyrgyzstan to interview Sulayka and Karagul Arpachiyev and Dugdurbai and Kashymkan Kachikeeva. They interviewed Joldosh Oskonbaev and Dilber Ejeke in Bishkek.

  

Rayhon Jonbekova, who is from Khorog, Tajikistan, was a junior in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when she traveled to Osh and interviewed Abidjan Yuldashov, Akram Valiev, and Abdukhapar Bekebaev. “Before leaving Bishkek, I set up interviews with two old women – sisters. But when I arrived, they canceled their interviews. It was three days before my flight back to Bishkek was scheduled to leave. On the first day, I went out and tried to talk to some people, but none of them spoke Russian and I don’t speak Kyrgyz. I had two days left, so I went to the park and to some chaikhanas [teahouses]. Wherever I went, I was looking around for old people. I saw them everywhere, even in my dreams. Luckily, I found three old men: one was walking in a park and the other two were playing chess. They were nice and agreed to help me. I felt like I was hunting old people.”

  

Nariman Jumayev, who is from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, was a sophomore in the Economics Department at AUCA when he interviewed Mariya Vysockaya and Sofiya Kim in Bishkek.

  

Bahtiyar Kurambaev, who is from Dashagouz, Turkmenistan, was a junior in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when he interviewed Aleksandr Golovanev and Lyudmila Titova in Bishkek. “The lady I interviewed started taking off my clothes when we were about to start the interview. It was weird in that an 80-year-old woman was taking coat so that I wouldn't get too warm."

  

Nazarbegim Muzaffarova, who is from Kyrgyzstan, was a sophomore in Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when she traveled to the Osh area to interview Gafurjon Shakirov and Dilrom Ergasheva. Although she was staying in Osh, she did her interviews in the village of Uchkurgan, in neighboring Batken province. “I spent an hour interviewing Gafurjon and then I realized that I had accidentally deleted the interview from my recorder. I was about to cry, but he said: ‘Don’t worry, come again tomorrow and, now that I know the questions, I will be able to give you a better interview.’ So I went back again to Batken and interviewed him again. But when I returned to Bishkek and connected my recorder to the computer, the first interview was there, so it turned out it hadn't been necessary to go to Batken twice.”

  

Maksat Nepesov, who is from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, was a sophomore in the American Studies Program at AUCA when he interviewed Asel Imankulova and Synanbibi Namatova in the village of Ak Bashat, near Bishkek.

  Azat Nepesov, who is from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, was a sophomore in the American Studies Program, when he interviewed Tokon Rakhmanova in the village of Ak Bashat, near Bishkek.
  Arslan Penjiyev, who is from Turkmenistan, was a senior in the International & Comparative Politics Program at AUCA when he interviewed Roza and Alexander Shafir at their home in Bishkek. “They were a very interesting and enthusiastic couple. They both had difficult lives and ended up being famous people in Kyrgyzstan. It was a pleasure to interview them and I still keep in touch – they invited me for dinner this week.”
  

Dilbar Ruzadorova, who is from Tajikistan, was a junior in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communications at AUCA when she traveled to western Kyrgyzstan to interview Babarakan Murabekova and interviewed Sooronbay Jusuyev in Bishkek.

  Murat Tuloberdiev, who is from Kyrgyzstan, was a student at AUCA when he interviewed Abdysh Asanov in Ken-Aral and Oktiabr Akmodoev in Talas.