El-Choro (Military)

El-Choro ("the people's warriors", from el, "people", and choro, "warrior, companion") is the traditional name for volunteer mounted guards raised by a clan to defend its herds and pastures. In Iradi and Kyrgyz epic, choro are a hero's sworn companions. In 1991 Bektur Zhumabek uulu organized el-choro patrols to protect clan herds from requisition, and the name passed to the El-Choro Militias, the armed force of the tribal regions since 2007.