Kyrgyzstan and central asia

Why in news?

• Kyrgyzstan has been gripped by unrest sparked by allegations of vote-buying and impropriety in the recent elections.

About Kyrgyzstan:

• Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia.
• It's the second smallest of the five Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Part of Soviet Union occupied, Kyrgyzstan attained sovereignty as a nation-state only after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
• It is bordered by four countries: Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west and southwest, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek.
• Ninety percent of the population are Muslims and Kyrgyz culture bears elements of Turkic, Persian, Mongolian and Russian influence.

About Central Asian Countries:

• Central Asia is a region which stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north.
• The region consists of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Central Asia (2019) has a population of about 72 million with Uzbekistan (33 million) having the largest and Tajikistan (9 million) having smallest.
• Area wise Kazakhstan is the largest while Tajikistan is the smallest country
• Uzbekistan, along with Liechtenstein, is one of two doubly landlocked countries.
• All the central Asian countries are land locked and Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country.
• Central Asia is an extremely large region of varied geography, including high passes and mountains (Tian Shan), vast deserts (Kyzyl Kum, Taklamakan), and vast steppe areas which are part of a homogeneous geographical zone known as the Eurasian Steppe.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding Central Asian region:
1.Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country.
2.All the countries in the region are former soviet Republics.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only 
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims Question