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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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• Kyrgyzstan 2001
  
• Kyrgyzstan 2005
  
• Kyrgyzstan 2007
  

Kyrgyzstan

The real estate market in the Central Asia republic of Kyrgyzstan is located mainly in the capital city of Bishkek. As in many other places in the whole region of the former USSR the property supply significantly exceeds demand which can be explained by several reasons. On one hand, we have thousands of ethnic Russians which left in the recent years and are still leaving the country for better life in Russia. Their move to the North suppresses the market and there is no internal or foreign demand that could fill the gap. On the other hand, as far as there is still some demand mainly from foreign customers (expatriates, offices, journalists, humanitarian organizations and international NGOs), this demand is largely focused on the renovated spaces (in Kyrgyzstan such apartments and offices are called "euro-renovated").

Going from the top of the market down the renovated 4-5 BR houses with small gardens in the suburbs may reach $40-50 000. The average renovated apartment in Bishkek downtown costs $8-10 000, unrenovated - $5-7 000. The same size in the suburbs are up to 40 % cheaper.

On the rent market there is a special segment for affluent foreigners (businesspersons, NGOs' officials, etc.). These are newly constructed houses rented for $500-800 per month. All are constructed in good ecological areas which partly explains why rents are so high.

On the office rent market experts suggest the foreign companies to have a space at the South Gate Business Center in Bishkek which is the only one so far in the capital that meets international business standards.

Tajikistan

On 26th September the US State Department issued a warning to the US citizens not to travel to Tajikistan (http://travel.state.gov/). Such warning at this time has been issued only for 4 countries in the world. Americans in this country are urged to reevaluate their presence and to leave as quickly as possible.

All available hotel rooms in the capital Dushanbe even in bad condition are now occupied by western and other international journalists willing to have a relatively safe base for covering the events in Afghanistan. Some of then are renting for months ahead private houses and apartments which are still available in the city. Rents are high which reflects the higher than in an normal period demand for rooms with electricity (for the faxes and PCs) and running water. These rents often depend only on the trading skills of the tenants. The same room may be rented for $100 or $500 per month depending on whether the journalists come form CNN or from some small media.

Being close to war operations the local people try to use that and extort as much as possible money from the foreigners. Simple drive to the Afghan border on 150mi. from Dushanbe (without going back) may cost you up to $2000. Of course there is no guarantee that you will get there or that you will return back safely with your mobile or/and satellite equipment.

So we add our advice to that of the US State Department. Even if are not American citizens, don't go to Tajikistan. If you want to be there "virtually", just watch the evening news on TV.

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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.