I've travelled through much of Kyrgyz(stan) and my views would be not to bring so much kit. Walking around in the day in Bishkek with a 350D and a 18-125 sigma and during night time I was advised by my friend who was living out there not to bring it but rather a compact for safety reasons. This was walking through central Bishkek which is not too bad a place. Kyrgyzstan at least don't see many foreign visitors so you stick out like a sore thumb wherever you are, unless you happen to look suitably Russian though. In Naryn it was even more looks though I suppose at that point we were fully garbed up in mountaineering clothing and on the way back four weeks later still in the same clothes so I suppose we may have had a certain whiff about us.
My suggestion would be 24-105 and the 17-40mm plus a compact that fits in a pocket. All kit in a suitably non descript canvas bag or similar. We were never hassled by anyone apart from the police who checked our documents a couple of times (make sure you have your passport on you).
Astana (Kazak) is supposedly better and Dushanbe (Tajik) is worse than Bishkek.
There's fantastic opportunities for a bit of street shooting, especially in the markets with many colourful characters and great surroundings. If you find the 24 wide enough then skip the 17-40 but I'd probably bring it as the architecture in the Soviet republics is pretty spectacular and does certainly benefit from a wide angle to try and fit the massive scale in. Even with a wide angle you may well end up stitching panoramas
While you are out there I suggest you sample Kymyz, a slightly fizzy milk beverage that tastes a bit like cheese and contains about 5% alcohol. Best bought from the roadside out of a bucket, make sure your Hep A vaccinations are up to date though. Here's my friend trying some
Charlie gives kymyz a go Another would be Maxim Shoro
Maxim
The local vodka is pretty tasty and cheap as chips, often less than $3 for a bottle at a restaurant.