
Soviet power in Kyrgyzstan was established in 1918 during the early consolidation of Bolshevik control in Central Asia. The Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast was created in 1924 as part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, a designation used by the Soviets to distinguish the Kyrgyz from the Kazakhs, who were also referred to as "Kyrgyz" at the time. By 1926, it had been elevated to the status of the Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and on December 5, 1936, it became the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), a full republic of the USSR.
The Soviet era brought significant social, cultural, and economic changes to Kyrgyzstan. During the 1920s, efforts were made to improve literacy, standardize the Kyrgyz literary language, and implement educational reforms. The Kyrgyz language, part of the Kipchak Turkic group, underwent script changes, moving from an Arabic-based alphabet to a Latin one in 1928 and finally to Cyrillic in 1941.
Under Joseph Stalin's regime, Kyrgyz national culture was suppressed to prevent nationalist sentiment, though many elements of traditional culture survived. The process of Soviet urbanization introduced Russian cultural and social norms into a society historically dominated by nomadic traditions. Urban centers became hubs of Soviet industry and governance, shaped heavily by Russian settlers brought in through central Communist Party policies. This led to significant shifts in Kyrgyz social structure, including the displacement of traditional family and religious practices in favor of Soviet ideals.
Despite these changes, Kyrgyzstan retained elements of its Muslim heritage, though religious expression was often limited under Soviet rule. The majority of Kyrgyz families adhered to Islam in varying degrees of devotion, reflecting a blend of traditional beliefs and Soviet secularism.
The legacy of this era includes a dual cultural identity in Kyrgyzstan. Russian influence persists, especially in urban areas and governance, while Kyrgyz nomadic and Turkic traditions remain strong in rural and familial contexts. The post-Soviet period has seen Kyrgyz society navigating the complex transition from a Soviet-controlled state to a modern, independent nation, with continued challenges in balancing its diverse cultural and ethnic influences.