Razzakov (), formerly known as Isfana, is a town in the extreme western end of Batken Region in southern Kyrgyzstan. The town is located in the southern part of the Fergana Valley, in a region surrounded on three sides by Tajikistan. It was renamed by President Sadyr Japarov in honour of Iskhak Razzakov on March 18, 2022.
Razzakov has been inhabited since at least the 9th century. It underwent significant changes during the Soviet period. The selsoviet (rural council) of Isfana was established in 1937. The selsoviet was transformed into a village administration in 1996. In 2001, Askar Akayev issued a presidential decree to make Isfana into a town.
Razzakov is the administrative center of Leylek District. The villages Ak-Bosogo (formerly Myrza-Patcha), Samat, Chymken, Taylan, Ak-Bulak, and Altyn-Beshik (formerly Golbo) are also governed by the Razzakov Mayor's Office. As of 2021, the population of Razzakov and the subordinated villages is 34,219. The population of Razzakov itself is 23,038.
Names and etymology
The word "isfana" is believed to have come from the Sogdian word asbanikat, asbanikent or aspanakent which means "the land of horses". According to historian Numon Negmatov, from the first to the ninth centuries Isfana was known as Asbanikat. From the 10th to the 12th centuries it was called Aspanikent. Starting from the 12th or 13th century the town's name gradually changed to Asbani, Aspana, Asvona, Isvona and, finally, to Isfana.
Since Isfana is not a Kyrgyz word, Kyrgyz nationalists called for renaming the town in honor of Iskhak Razzakov who served as the first secretary of the Communist Party of the Kyrgyz SSR. In December 2021, President Sadyr Japarov announced that he had made the decision to rename the town after Razzakov in the context of border tensions with neighboring Tajikistan. Later Japarov signed the Law "On renaming the city of Isfana, Leilek District, Batken Region, into the city of Razzakov", which was adopted by the Supreme Council on March 16, 2022.
History Early history The history of Razzakov dates back to the 9-16th centuries. In 1957, archeologist Y. A. Zadneprovskiy found items dating back to the 14-16th centuries in the territory of the town. According to Numon Negmatov, Isfana corresponds to the medieval town of Asbanikat. The town was first part of Osrushana and was later conquered by the Samanids. In 1221, Isfana was sieged and conquered by the Mongol Empire. The northwestern part of Razzakov through which the Mongols invaded is still known as "conquered by the Mongols" (; ).
The medieval town of Isfana was in the central part of modern Razzqov. It was home to a large fortress which was built in the 12th century. The last remaining walls of the Isfana Fortress were demolished in the 1970s.
18-19th centuries Throughout history, Razzakov was part of states that reigned the area that more or less corresponds to present-day Uzbekistan. From 1709 until 1876, Isfana was part of the Uzbek Khanate of Kokand. In mid-19th century, the Russian Empire began occupying the area of present-day Central Asia. By the late 19th century, imperial Russia had conquered all of the three states that dominated the territory roughly corresponding to present-day Uzbekistan. The Khanate of Khiva was conquered in 1873 and the Emirate of Bukhara fell in 1868. The Kokand Khanate formally became part of the Russian Empire in 1876.
Russian linguist Mirsalikh Bekchurin wrote that in 1866 there were about 500 households in Isfana. However, Uzbek historian Temirboy Yoqubov disputed this claim, saying that the residents of Isfana had historically paid taxes for 1,000 households. Bekchurin wrote that Isfana was protected by a 200-men garrison whose members were armed "only with lances and sabers".
Soviet and contemporary history Even though Razzakov was historically an Uzbek settlement, it became part of present-day Kyrgyzstan. When Russians split the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic into autonomous oblasts, Isfana became part of the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast, which was later reorganized into the Kirghiz ASSR and later into the Kirghiz SSR. After the dissolution of the USSR, the Kirghiz SSR became Kyrgyzstan. Thus, despite being a majority-Uzbek settlement, Isfana became part of Kyrgyzstan.
Some sources hold that the Soviets drew borders inconsistent with the traditional locations of ethnic populations so that people with historical claims to land would be dependent on the central power, that is Moscow, making them easier to control. According to these sources, the creation of individual republics was meant to reduce the threat of pan-Turkic or pan-Islamic movements in Central Asia. This strategy has been referred to as Joseph Stalin's "divide and rule" policy. Currently, there are many traditionally Uzbek settlements in Kyrgyzstan. Many people in Central Asia believe that they should more appropriately be part of another country. However, some scholars claim that since during the Soviet demarcation of Central Asia many places in Central Asia were ethnically mixed, it was impossible to clearly define ethnic and territorial boundaries.
Razzakov underwent significant changes during the Soviet period. Under the Soviet rule, Isfana was transformed from an underdeveloped Muslim settlement into a typical Soviet village. The selsoviet (rural council) of Isfana was established in 1937. During World War II, 571 residents of the village were sent to the front line, 385 of whom died fighting.
The Isfana selsoviet was transformed into a village administration in 1996. In 2001, Askar Akayev issued a presidential decree to make Isfana into a town. The town was renamed Razzakov on 16 March 2022.
Geography Razzakov is in the western part of Batken Region at an altitude of 1,320 meters above sea level. The Isfana River, one of the tributaries of the Syr-Darya, flows through Razzakov.
The town is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The mountains are within a few kilometers from the city. The highest of these are the mountains of the Turkestan Range, which is a northern extension of the Pamir-Alay system of mountain ranges.
Area
The area of Razzakov is 41.35 square kilometers (107 square miles).
Settlement Area (km2)Razzakov2.52Ak-Bosogo0.26Samat1.16Chimgen0.87Taylan0.49Ak-Bulak0.3Golbo0.28
Climate Razzakov has a continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dsa) with dry summers and snowy winters. The spring and fall see significant rainfall, while the summers are hot and dry. There are many dryland wheat and barley fields in the Isfana area that depend on winter snow and spring rain to produce good crops.
Summers are long in Razzakov, usually lasting from May to September. Razzakov can be extremely hot during the summer months. The town also sees very little precipitation during the summer, particularly from June through September.
Demographics
As of 2021, the total population of Razzakov and the subordinated villages is estimated to be 34,219 people. The population of the town of Razzakov itself is 23,038.
According to the 2009 Population and Housing Census of Kyrgyzstan, at that time the population of Razzakov itself was 18,244 and the population of Razzakov and the subordinated villages was 27,965. The 1999 census had put the number of people living in the then village of Isfana at 15,910. As of 2021, the populations of Razzakov and the subordinated villages are as follows:
Settlement PopulationRazzakov23,038Ak-Bosogo901Samat2,359Chimgen3,490Taylan1,616Ak-Bulak952Golbo1,810
A large number of the residents of Razzakov are migrant workers in Russia. There are no official data on the number of Razzakovites who work abroad.
Representatives of many ethnic groups can be found in the town. Uzbeks are the largest ethnic group in Razzakov. However, if the populations of the six subordinated villages are included, the Kyrgyz become the largest ethnic group. According to data from 2005, the ethnic make-up of Razzakov and the six subordinated villages is as follows: 50.2 percent are Kyrgyz, 48.6 percent are Uzbek, 0.3 percent are Tatar, 0.3 percent are Tajik, and the rest are representatives of various other ethnic groups.
Razzakov has traditionally been Muslim. The residents of Razzakov are Sunni Muslims. There are five mosques in the town. There are no sizeable communities of other religious groups.
Economy
During the Soviet era, there were some factories in Razzakov. Also, there was a large kolkhoz. Since Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991, almost all of the factories have closed.
Many Razzakovites now go abroad to make a living, with the most popular destination being Russia. People also go to the neighboring countries of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. There are no reliable data on the number of labor migrants from Razzakov.
People who stay in the town engage in trade and agriculture. Animal husbandry is also widespread. Those who engage in agriculture mostly grow grains, fruits, vegetables, and plants that produce oil.
Razzakov has two large bazaars. Most sellers who work in these bazaars bring their goods from markets in Osh, Kara-Suu, and Khujand. Razzakov also has a livestock market which is open on Thursdays and Fridays.
The economy of Razzakov, like the economy of many Kyrgyzstani towns, is primarily kiosk in nature. A large amount of local commerce occurs at the bazaars and small kiosks all over the town. A significant amount of trade is unregulated. The town lacks a centralized sewage system and piped gas.
Government Razzakov has a mayor–council form of government. Members of the Town Kenesh (Council) elect the mayor. The Town Kenesh has 30 members. The villages of Ak-Bosogo (formerly Myrza-Patcha), Samat, Chimgen, Ak-Bulak, Taylan, and Golbo are also governed by the administration of Razzakov. The current mayor of Razzakov is Chyngyz Rysov.
+ List of mayors of Razzakov No. Mayor Took office Left office 1 Salikha Muratova February 2001 April 2001 2 Umarali Isabekov April 2001 December 2005 3 Maripzhan Muminov December 2005 February 2009 4 Ysak Pazylov March 2009 July 2010 5 Berdimurat Jalilov July 2010 August 2011 6 Khamza Saliamov August 2011 January 2013 7 Tashpolot Kozubaev January 2013 December 2014 8 Mukhtar Anarbotoev January 2015 September 2018 9 Abdivali Khamraev September 2018 June 2021 10 Chingiz Rysov June 2021 November 202411Mukhtar AbdukhamitovNovember 2024January 202512Adilbek ZhorobaevJanuary 2025March 202613Daniiar KenzhebaevApril 2026Present
Razzakov is the administrative center of Leylek District to which it is subordinated. All of the administrative agencies of the District of Leylek are in Razzakov.
Like in other Kyrgyzstani settlements where there are large groups of ethnic minorities, virtually all administrative positions in Leylek District are held by ethnic Kyrgyz. Since Kyrgyzstan became independent, all heads of Leylek District have been ethnic Kyrgyz. Currently there are a few ethnic Uzbeks working in the Razzakov Mayor's Office and Razzakov Town Council.
Education High schools
Razzakov has many educational institutions. There are two gymnasium schools in Razzakov: Gymnasium School No. 1 and the Uzbek Gymnasium. There is also an international boarding school using Cambridge curriculum, inclined to innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, namely AIM. Aalam international Magnet School. All of these schools accept more academically-inclined students.