Venera Djumataeva is a broadcaster with RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service, covering major events in Central Asia and international topics relating to Kyrgyzstan and the region at large. Born in the Ysykkol region in Kyrgyzstan, Venera graduated from the History Faculty at Kyrgyz State University and a three-year post-graduate program in World History at Kyrgyz National University. Since 1995, Venera has been working as a journalist for Radio ‘Mir’ and RFE/RL, covering major Kyrgyz political events in Bishkek. She was formerly a contributor to Institute for War and Peace Reporting.