Associate Professor of Cultural Studies, National Attestation Commission, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2009), Doctor of History, Institute of History, National Academy of Sciences, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2005), Candidate of Philosophy (1999). AREA OF RESEARCH INTERESTS: Ethnicity and identity, ethnic nationalism, language policy, ethnicity and state building in Kyrgyzstan, ethnicity and religion, the Islamic factor, history of Kyrgyz state, modern history of Kyrgyzstan, culture of the Middle East, culture and religion of Japan