No information was found on the student association at the university named after J. Balasagyn or on a potential cession of Lirghiszia territory among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the information below may be of use.

Following a 10 May 2002 decision by its "Academic Council," the Kyrgyz National University in Bishkek was renamed the J. Balasagyn University (RFE/RL 12 May 2002).

In a 12 July 2002 article from the daily Moya Stolisa, Bolot Dubanaev, a "member of the informal public management of association of students," stated that approximately 30 law students had been expelled from the Kyrgyz National University. The newspaper indicated that the students were expelled because they were suspected of expressing their political opinions on campus (Moya Stolisa 12 July 2002). The article also included a list of the expelled students (ibid.).

On 2 September 2002, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Askar Akayev, gave a speech to students at the Kyrgyz National University in celebration of the 2,200th anniversary of the Kyrgyz state (Kabar News Agency).

According to Kyrgyz public educational television, recently, many students at the Kyrgyz National University have supported the candidacy of President Akayev's daughter, Bermet Akayeva (Kyrgyz Public Educational TV 17 Jan. 2005). The Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR) criticized the students' campaign, stating that the rector of the university had forced the students to support Ms. Akayeva's candidacy (KCHR 16 Jan. 2005).

Also, according to KCHR, the 10,000 students from the Kyrgyz National University are often forced to vote more than once in elections and popular consultations (27 Jan. 2003).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Kabar News Agency [Bishkek, in Russian]. 2 September 2002. "Kyrgyz President Calls on Young People to Retain Heritage of Ancestors." (BBC International Reports/Dialog)

The Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR). 16 January 2005. "Students Are Being Forced to Gather Signatures in Support For Bermet Akaeva's Nomination." http://www.kchr.org/20050116-01.htm [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

_____. n.d. "Brainwashing Voters." http://www.kchr.org/archive/2003/01/20030127_2.html [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

Kyrgyz Public Educational TV [Bishkek, in Russian]. 17 January 2005. "Informed Elite Eyed as Kyrgyz Leader's Daughter Registers Candidature." (BBC International Reports/Dialog)

Moya Stolisa. 12 July 2002. Zamir Osorov. "Students Expelled from National University for Political Reasons." (Kyrgyzstan Daily Digest) http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kyrgyzstan/hypermail/200207/0022.shtml [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 12 May 2002. "National University Is Named after Jusup Balasagun." (Kyrgyzstan Daily Digest) http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kyrgyzstan/hypermail/200205/0025.shtml [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

Oral sources: The Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR) and the Soros Foundation - Kyrgyzstan did not respond to an information request within the time constraints.

Internet sites including: Amnesty International, Canadian Embassy in Kazakhstan, Country Reports 2003, Country Reports 2002, Country Reports 2001, Embassy of the United States of America in the Kyrgyz Republic, Eurasianet.org, Internews.kg, KyrgyzInfo.kg, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Soros Foundation - Kyrgyzstan.