Fundamental Issues Facing Kyrgyzstan's Future Leader

On Oct. 30, Kyrgyzstan will hold its first presidential election since the April 2010 uprising. Whoever wins the election will face inherent challenges domestically and regionally. Many of Kyrgyzstan's problems can be attributed to its almost completely mountainous terrain, complex borders with its neighbors and ethnic and political divisions within the country. Kyrgyzstan's fundamental characteristics create an environment conducive to protests, ethnic tensions and militancy.