The impact of migration processes on the religious situation in Kyrgyzstan in 2015–2025

Migration processes in Kyrgyzstan during the period 2015-2025 have had a significant impact on the religious landscape, reinforcing both traditional practices and the risks of radicalization. The author of the article analyzes key aspects, including the growth of Islamization among migrants in Russia, return migration accompanied by increased religiosity (including Salafi influences), demographic shifts in the ethno-religious composition, and state restrictions on freedom of religion. Based on data from the IOM, the World Bank, USCIRF reports, and national statistics, several trends are identified: the return of migrants in 2020–2021 contributed to the expansion of informal religious groups; by 2025, new legislation on religion (entering into force in January) criminalized unauthorized religious practices, affecting returnee migrants. Regional disparities are most evident in the southern regions (Osh and Jalal-Abad), where migration intensifies ethnic and religious tensions. The article recommends measures aimed at the integration of returnees and the monitoring of radicalization in order to preserve the secular character of the state.