Today is officially International Workers' Day, one of the many Soviet holidays still celebrated in Kyrgyzstan. Walking down Chui Prospekt this morning I noticed a small communist rally complete with flags of the Kyrgyz SSR, red banners and photographs of Lenin and Stalin. They also had a band playing loud music.
What are my odds of being mugged or assaulted on the streets of Bishkek?
ReplyDeleteHas it ever happened to you?
Overall if you show common sense, Bishkek is a relatively safe city. I have never been attacked in Bishkek. I was mugged once in my life in Sacramento. I think Bishkek is safer than most cities the same size in the US. The estimated population of Bishkek is a little over 1.25 million people.
ReplyDeleteThe following saftey tips should be sufficient to prevent becoming a victim in Bishkek. Watch where you are walking. Carry a flashlight at night since many of the street lights do not work. Most cheap mobile phones you can buy here have built in flashlights. Do not walk home intoxicated. Do not draw attention to yourself as a rich foreigner. If you follow these tips then the odds of being a victim of street crime in Bishkek are pretty low. They are certainly lower than in big cities in the US and Europe.