Clinton met with Kyrgz President Askar Akayev, who has been a champion of market reform.

CNN: AllPolitics - Hillary Clinton Travels Through Former Soviet Republics

U.S. officials note that Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev keeps a bust of Thomas Jefferson in his office and quotes him frequently when talking to foreigners.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Rebasing -- and Reequipping -- for Transformation

Kyrgyzstan was once seen as the most stable and liberal of the ex-Soviet Central Asian republics but it descended into turmoil in 2005 when a popular revolt ejected President Askar Akayev and brought Kurmanbek Bakiyev to power.

BBC: Kyrgyzstan former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev sentenced