Batken Баткен
Batken Location in Kyrgyzstan
Coordinates: 40°4′N 70°50′E / 40.067°N 70.833°E / 40.067; 70.833Coordinates: 40°4′N 70°50′E / 40.067°N 70.833°E / 40.067; 70.833
Country	Kyrgyzstan
Province	Batken Province
Government
- Gubernator	Sultanbay Ayjigitov
Population
- Total	12,000
Area code(s)	+996 3622

Batken (also called Batkent) is a small town of about 12,000 population, in southwestern Kyrgyzstan, on the southern fringe of the Fergana Valley. Its geographical location is 40°4′N 70°50′E / 40.067°N 70.833°E / 40.067; 70.833. It is the capital of the Batken Province.

History

The name Batkent is from the Iranian language of Sogdian and means "The city of wind".

Batken became the administrative headquarters of the youngest of Kyrgyzstan's seven oblasts, created from the three westernmost raions of the former Osh oblast in 1999, after concerns over radical Islamist activities in neighboring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan led to demands for a more direct and visible governmental presence in this remote and mountainous region. There is a small airport and, since 2000, a small university as well.

Administrative seats of the provinces of Kyrgyzstan Batken • Bishkek • Jalal-Abad • Karakol • Naryn • Osh • Talas