It is with great sadness that the Presidium of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress must inform the community of the deminse of EAJC General Council member, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Republic Society of Jewish Culture "Menorah," Boris Moiseevich Shapiro.

Boris Shapiro graduated from the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy. He headed the Republican Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, was the deputy of the Head Sanitary Inspector of the republic, and for 10 years was the First Deputy to the Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz SSR. In 1996, he headed the Republican AIDS Union, and laid foundation for taking preventative measures and treating AIDS in Kyrgyzstan.

Boris Shapiro was decorated by the "Badge of Honor" order, the "Kyrgyz SSR Perfect Health Care Professional" order, as well as the "Dank" and "Danaker" medals. "Distinguished Doctor of the Kyrgyz Republic" and "Honorary Citizen of Bishkek."
In 1998, Boris Shapiro was elected chairman of the "Menorah" Society for Jewish Culture, the leading secular Jewish organization of the republic, and for sixteen years he used his vast authority and host of contacts to defend the interests of the Jewish community. It is in many ways through his efforts that the Jewish community of Kyrgyzstan has taken its proper place among the international palette of the republic.