Ala-Too Square

Ala-Too Square^[a] is the central square in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The square was built in 1984 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, at which time a massive statue of Lenin was placed in the square's center.^[1] The square was known as Lenin Square until Kyrgyzstan gained its Independence from the USSR in 1991.^[2] The statue of Lenin was moved in 2003 to a smaller square in the city, and a new statue called Erkindik ('Freedom') was installed in its place. In 2011, it was replaced by a statue of Manas, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's independence.^[3]

On 24 March 2005, the square was the site of the largest antigovernmental protest of Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution. After several weeks of unrest throughout the country, over 15,000 people gathered early in the afternoon to protest the results of the 2005 parliamentary elections. Two people were killed and over 100 wounded when the protesters clashed with government officials.^[4] However, the protesters soon took control of the square, and stormed the White House, forcing Askar Akayev, Kyrgyzstan's first president, to flee the country and later resign from office.

The square serves as a place for state events and celebrations. In 2008, it was the site of a memorial ceremony for world-renowned Kyrgyz writer Chinghiz Aitmatov.^[5][6]

En el 70 aniversario de la Segunda Guerra Mundial en 2015, tuvo lugar el primer desfile militar del Día de la Victoria en la plaza Ala-Too en presencia del primer ministro Temir Sariyev y el jefe del Estado Mayor de las Fuerzas Armadas, Asanbek Alymkozhoev . ^{[ 7 ]}

En noviembre de 2020, el manaschi Doolot Sydykov recitó la Epopeya de Manas de forma continua durante un récord de 14 horas y 27 minutos. ^{[ 8 ]}

La plaza está atravesada por la avenida Chuy Prospekt. Entre los edificios y monumentos que rodean la plaza se encuentra el Museo Histórico Estatal de Kirguistán .

• Cámara web de la plaza Ala-Too