Kyrgyzstan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, the team covers a major political merger in Kazakhstan, new counter-terrorism raids in southern Kyrgyzstan, a shock resignation inside the Kyrgyz government, security and military forces being placed on high alert across the country, and Uzbekistan making its historic debut at the FIFA World Cup, as the rest of Central Asia reacts to a rare bit of good regional news. Before then turning to our main story this week, where a major new European Union report has examined foreign information manipulation, narrative shaping, and how Russia and China are trying to influence the media and messaging ecosystem across Central Asia. Special guest: Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (Managing Director of the European Neighbourhood Council)

Snow Leopard

Kyrgyzstan to Host Snow Leopard Eco Festival in Chon-Kemin

Kyrgyzstan will host the environmental festival “Snow Leopard EcoFest Chon-Kemin 2026” on July 11 at the hippodrome in the village of Shabdan in the Chon-Kemin Valley, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision announced. The festival, themed “Snow Leopard: Eco-Education as the Foundation for a Sustainable Future in Kyrgyzstan,” aims to raise environmental awareness, promote eco-education and sustainable tourism, and draw public attention to the conservation of the snow leopard, Kyrgyzstan’s national symbol. The event is being organized by the Ilbirs-Green Generation Public Foundation, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, the Secretariat of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program, and local authorities. According to the ministry, the festival will feature a presentation of the winners of the “BARS FASHION 2026 - Best Snow Leopard Costume” student competition. Visitors will also be able to explore themed zones, including eco-product exhibitions, snow leopard-themed art spaces, painting and photography displays, children’s drawing contests, ecology workshops, archery, kurosh wrestling, the “Snow Leopard Jump” competition, stunt performances, and other cultural activities. Organizers say the festival is designed to show that eco-education is not only about learning about nature, but also about building responsibility, environmental awareness, and a willingness to take action. Through educational, cultural, and interactive formats, participants will learn more about snow leopards, mountain ecosystems, and the role individuals can play in protecting nature. Admission will be free for residents and visitors. Snow leopards are considered a key indicator of ecological health across mountainous regions in 12 Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan. The country has played an active role in international conservation efforts, including spearheading a United Nations General Assembly initiative that established October 23 as the International Day of the Snow Leopard. Kyrgyzstan recognized the snow leopard as a national symbol by presidential decree in December 2023. In October 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved rules for using the official logo. The animal has also been selected as the official mascot of the sixth World Nomad Games, which Kyrgyzstan will host from August 31 to September 6, 2026.

Wastewater Treatment

Naryn Begins Wastewater Upgrade with EBRD, Swiss, and EU Support

Construction has begun on a new wastewater treatment plant in Naryn, the administrative center of Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region, under a project backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Switzerland, and the European Union. The financing package includes a €2 million sovereign loan from the EBRD, a €3.6 million grant from Switzerland, and a €1 million grant from the EU. The funds will be used to build a new wastewater treatment plant, extend the city’s sewerage network, construct two new pumping stations, and purchase operational equipment. According to the EBRD, Naryn, a city of around 42,000 people, currently has wastewater service coverage of only about 22%, with many households still relying on outdoor toilets or septic tanks. Once completed, the project is expected to improve public health, reduce environmental pollution, strengthen resilience to climate change, and lower operating costs. The number of residents benefiting from improved wastewater services is projected to double from around 10,000 to 20,000. Speaking at the launch ceremony on June 17, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Erlist Akunbekov said the project would help improve living standards in the city, protect the Naryn River, and support the region’s sustainable development. “This project will contribute to improving the quality of life for city residents, ensuring the environmental safety of the Naryn River, and promoting the sustainable development of Naryn,” Akunbekov said, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry. The ministry said similar projects aimed at improving drinking water supply and wastewater treatment are currently under way in 25 cities and 600 villages across Kyrgyzstan. To date, the EBRD has invested more than €196 million in 32 water supply and wastewater treatment projects across 28 municipalities in Kyrgyzstan. That total includes €87 million in loans and €109 million in capital grants, including €33 million from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and €46 million from the EU.

Electric Vehicles

Kyrgyzstan to Establish National Taxi Aggregator With Chinese Support

A Chinese company will help Kyrgyzstan establish its own electric vehicle taxi aggregator in a market currently dominated by Russian ride-hailing platforms. The National Investment Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic and China’s Shenzhen Wuyou Technology Co., Ltd. have signed framework agreements on investment projects to establish a national taxi aggregator, a modern electric vehicle fleet, and a network of EV charging stations across Kyrgyzstan, according to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. At the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Benazir Nurlanova said Kyrgyzstan attaches particular importance to developing its partnership with China. She said the new projects would contribute to the development of a green economy in Kyrgyzstan, the adoption of modern technologies, and investment cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese side expressed readiness for long-term cooperation, including the exchange of experience and technology, and noted the high potential of joint initiatives in electric transport and digital infrastructure. Kyrgyzstan’s taxi market is currently served through taxi aggregators: ride-hailing platforms that connect passengers with private drivers through a single digital system. The state-backed project involving the Chinese company could become an alternative to existing aggregators, including Russia’s Yandex Taxi, which currently dominates Kyrgyzstan’s taxi market, and Wildberries Taxi, which has entered the local market.

Kyrgyzstan Moves Taxi Licensing Online

Private taxi drivers in Kyrgyzstan can now apply for operating licenses online. The new system removes the need to visit the Main Directorate for Road Traffic Safety (GUOBDD) to submit paperwork and applications in person. Drivers can apply through mobile apps, although long queues for taxi licenses have yet to ease. According to Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev, the government introduced the digital system to create more transparent and convenient conditions for taxi and minibus drivers. Kasymaliev said the reform frees drivers from paper bureaucracy and simplifies the licensing process. “We have created the most convenient and transparent digital conditions. Now the task is to explain the process to every driver, including mandatory medical and technical inspections. At the same time, transport operators must clearly understand that starting from July 1 this year, taxi drivers working without proper licenses will face strict liability under the law,” he said. The licensing change follows recent moves to tighten passenger transport regulations in Kyrgyzstan. GUOBDD told The Times of Central Asia that around 300 people applied online on the first day of the new system, including 120 in Bishkek. According to Nurdin Sambaev, head of the department for transport activity licensing and technical supervision at GUOBDD, drivers need to register in the app and complete identity verification before applying. “Once the driver enters their taxpayer identification number, the system automatically requests all necessary documents from other state agencies. This includes criminal record certificates, vehicle registration documents, and other paperwork required for licensing,” Sambaev said. Some steps still require a physical visit. Drivers must appear at the department for vehicle inspections. They must also undergo a medical examination to obtain the Form 083 certificate of professional fitness. The results of these checks will be uploaded directly into the government’s Tunduk app, where the license itself will also be displayed. The simplified process has not yet won over all drivers. According to offline licensing officers, queues have remained long since authorities announced that fines would be imposed on drivers without licenses from July 1. Taxi drivers interviewed by The Times of Central Asia said submitting documents in person still feels more reliable and familiar. Many also noted that other drivers can help explain the paperwork if questions arise. Some said they had not yet figured out how to use the app, while others said their online applications had failed, forcing them to return to the traditional method. GUOBDD staff welcomed the change, saying the digital format will reduce paperwork and simplify the processing of applications.

Environmental Research

Kyrgyzstan-Germany Project Studies Lake Issyk-Kul Ecosystem

A comprehensive scientific study of Lake Issyk-Kul began on June 11 as part of an international project involving Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University (KSTU), the International Medical University, and Germany’s Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries. Lake Issyk-Kul is Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake and its leading tourist destination. It also forms part of a protected ecological area. In recent decades, the lake has faced growing climate-related pressures. According to KSTU, cooperation between the scientific institutions began in 2024 with the establishment of the Issyk-Kul Ecological Laboratory in Cholpon-Ata. The laboratory has since become a platform for joint research into the lake’s ecological condition. In 2025, the partners secured a grant from the German Research Foundation to conduct a comprehensive study of the Issyk-Kul ecosystem. German scientists have arrived in Kyrgyzstan to take part in the research. The project focuses on the hydrophysical, hydrochemical, hydrobiological, and hydro-optical properties of Issyk-Kul’s water using advanced scientific methods and technologies. Researchers are also studying biological processes within the aquatic ecosystem, including DNA and RNA analysis of biomaterials. The research is expected to help assess ongoing ecological processes, identify long-term trends, and establish a scientific basis for measures to preserve the lake’s ecosystem. According to KSTU Professor Salmor Alymkulov, the project is important for expanding international scientific cooperation, training young researchers, and developing recommendations to protect Kyrgyzstan’s natural heritage. Kyrgyzstan views the preservation of Issyk-Kul as part of the global climate and water agenda. In December 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Concept for the Sustainable Development of the Ecological and Economic System of Lake Issyk-Kul through 2030, along with an accompanying action plan. The initiative is aimed at protecting the lake and its surrounding biosphere from growing environmental and human pressures while supporting the region’s long-term economic resilience. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai in February 2026, Kyrgyzstan’s then Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobaev, warned of the growing climate risks facing Issyk-Kul. According to Torobaev, the lake’s water level has fallen by nearly 14 meters since the mid-19th century, while its total volume has decreased by approximately 85 billion cubic meters. The number of rivers flowing into the lake has also declined significantly, largely due to glacier melt and increased agricultural water use. He warned that further declines in Issyk-Kul’s water level could have serious environmental and socioeconomic consequences, including threats to biodiversity, the lake’s tourism potential, and the well-being of local communities.