Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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World Nomad Games

Kyrgyzstan Secures Exclusive Rights to World Nomad Games Brand

On December 9, Kyrgyzstan officially received the exclusive rights to the World Nomad Games trademark in a formal handover ceremony attended by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev. Over the years, the Games have evolved into a major international festival showcasing Central Asia’s rich cultural traditions through events featuring birds of prey, equestrian sports, traditional wrestling, archery, and displays of physical skill and endurance. The rights were transferred by Askhat Akibayev, the founder of the World Nomad Games and former Plenipotentiary Representative of the Kyrgyz Government in the Issyk-Kul region. Kasymaliev praised Akibayev’s foundational role in developing the Games into a globally recognized cultural and sporting event. “Over the past decade, the World Nomad Games have become one of the largest global platforms for promoting ethnic culture, the values of nomadic civilization, and traditional sports,” he said. “Today, this project is a true national brand for Kyrgyzstan, the flagship of our state’s cultural diplomacy, and an important symbol of our international authority.” Launched by Kyrgyzstan in 2012, the World Nomad Games aim to revive and preserve the cultural heritage of nomadic civilizations. The inaugural Games were held in September 2014 in the resort town of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. Kyrgyzstan also hosted the second and third editions in 2016 and 2018. The 2022 Games were held in Turkey, and the 2024 edition took place in Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzstan will host the sixth World Nomad Games from August 31 to September 6, 2026.

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Available Sunday

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. The new episode, available this Sunday, will be dedicated to 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence, with guests Svetlana Dzardanova, a gender and human rights researcher for Freedom for Eurasia, based in Bishkek, and Janette Akhilgova, Equality Now’s Eurasia consultant.

Creative Industries

Kyrgyzstan’s Creative Industries Park: Inside the Country’s Latest Artistic “Miracle”

Kyrgyz cinema in the 1960s to 1970s was sometimes referred to as the ‘Kyrgyz Miracle’, for the number of great pieces that were made during this time. This is still symbolic today, as the country is now in another ‘miracle’ era for the creative industries, which is setting an example not just for the Central Asia region, but globally. In 2023 Daniyar Amanaliev, Co-Founder of an art studio named ololo and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Creative Industries Park, told Deutsche Welle: “We have a very small country. When you start a business here, it's very difficult to start making money because the market is so small. And our innovators are people who are involved in creative businesses. Almost all of these companies have intangible products that cannot be stopped at customs or sealed in a warehouse. Everything is in people's heads, on computers, in the cloud, and this is exactly the kind of business model that can thrive in the Kyrgyz Republic”. This story starts with Ololo, a small art studio in Bishkek founded in 2016 by Daniar Amanaliev, Ainura Amanalieva, Atai Sadybakasov, and Victoria Yurtaeva. The initial idea was to change the lifestyle of Kyrgyz citizens, enriching their lives with different forms of art, and let them pursue the dreams of their youth. The studio provided a wide range of art classes with no age restrictions. The company soon switched its business model to operating creative hubs. Yurtaeva soon left the project. Fast forward nine years and in 2025 Ololo is the largest chain of creative hubs in Central Asia, with nine locations in Kyrgyzstan and an upcoming launch of their tenth location in Kazakhstan. In October 2021 Ololo was crucial to the launch of the Association of Creative Industries of the Kyrgyz Republic, together with eight other companies from the creative industries. Starting as a modest group, the association is now among the most active associations in the country, with over 50 member companies representing over 20 creative industries. In April 2022 the country’s President Sadyr Japarov signed an Order on the development of the creative industries. He even visited the very first Create4 creative industries festival later that year. Kyrgyzstan’s Creative Industries Park (CIP) came into being in summer 2022. Almost a year later, the relevant amendments to the national Tax Code were approved. In June 2023 a government order regulating the operations of the Creative Industries Park was adopted. And, finally, the register of industries exempt from taxes under the Creative Industries Park were defined in December of 2023. While it may seem easy from the outside, the Association of Creative Industries had to deal with significant pushback from various government agencies and officials, who did not believe in the potential of the creative industries. It took almost three years to complete the process and only in 2024, three years after the association was founded, did the Creative Industries Park become operational. In February 2024 a Supervisory Board was appointed. CIP’s Management was...

Tourism

“Winter Begins in Karakol”: Kyrgyzstan Launches Ski Season with Cultural Events

The winter tourist season has officially opened in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, long considered one of Central Asia’s top destinations for active winter tourism. The city is traditionally the first in the country to open its ski slopes, and this year’s launch was not merely technical, but a full-scale event aimed at boosting both domestic and international tourism. A festive program was held at the ski base, featuring music and dance performances, as well as the launch of the “Jaryk Fest” festival. Local artisans hosted master classes in felt-making, showcasing clothing and souvenir production. This crafts section played an important role in positioning the region as a cultural as well as an adventure destination. [caption id="attachment_40525" align="aligncenter" width="402"] @TCA[/caption] “Jaryk Fest is a celebration of light, snow, and vivid emotions. It’s timed to coincide with the opening of the winter season across Kyrgyzstan. We even have a slogan: ‘Winter begins in Karakol,’” said Ulukbek Almakebek, manager of the Karakol ski resort, in an interview with The Times of Central Asia. According to the organizers, the resort continues to draw tourists from Russia and Kazakhstan, but recent years have seen a notable rise in visitors from Europe and Southeast Asia, a trend that Kyrgyzstan is actively encouraging by expanding its winter tourism offerings. Skiers highlight Karakol’s unique terrain as one of its main attractions. Many of the trails pass through dense coniferous forests, creating picturesque and varied descents not found at other regional resorts. Erdenet Kasymov, director of the Kyrgyzstan Tourism Department, noted that winter tourism is rapidly diversifying. In addition to traditional skiing and hot springs, European tourists are increasingly opting for mountain hiking and horseback riding. [caption id="attachment_40526" align="aligncenter" width="396"] @TCA[/caption] “Tourists from South Korea and India are particularly drawn to snowshoeing in deep snow. It’s a relatively new form of recreation, but one that’s quickly gaining popularity,” Kasymov said. One emerging trend is winter yachting on Issyk-Kul Lake. Because the lake does not freeze in winter, it offers an extended season and opportunities for new types of recreation. Two modern yachts have already been acquired for the region, and work is ongoing to restore older vessels and build docks and piers. This approach aligns with a vision outlined by President Sadyr Japarov, a native of the Issyk-Kul region, who has previously called for moving beyond the traditional separation of “winter” and “summer” tourism. According to Japarov, Kyrgyzstan is building a model of year-round tourism designed to take advantage of the country’s diverse natural offerings.

Higher Education

Central Asian Countries Agree to Recognize Each Other’s University Degrees

The governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have officially agreed to mutually recognize higher education diplomas issued within the region. Kazakhstan approved the relevant draft on November 12, as documented in an intergovernmental agreement. The initiative aims to create a unified educational space in Central Asia and eliminate barriers related to qualification recognition. Under the agreement, all five countries will automatically recognize university diplomas that are legally valid, officially accredited, and issued by state higher education institutions in any of the participating countries. Recognition will apply in three key areas: Employment in another Central Asian country Internships Continuing education at the next academic level However, qualifications must meet common higher education standards. Recognition may be denied only if substantial differences in the educational systems are identified. The agreement outlines a clear implementation mechanism: each country will appoint a designated authority responsible for diploma recognition and notify the depositary, which will in turn inform the other signatories. If the structure or authority of the appointed body changes, the state is required to issue an immediate notification through diplomatic channels. Despite agreeing on a shared framework, the countries still maintain varying standards for recognizing foreign university degrees. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan have agreed to recognize diplomas from universities in any participating country, provided those institutions are legally operating and issue officially recognized state diplomas. Kazakhstan, however, has adopted stricter criteria. It will only recognize diplomas from regional universities that appear in the top 1,000 of the following international rankings: Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS) Times Higher Education (THE) Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) Diplomas from these universities will allow holders from participating countries to work, intern, or pursue further studies in Kazakhstan, subject to an application process. The agreement is expected to ease the movement of skilled professionals within Central Asia and reduce bureaucratic barriers to regional academic and professional mobility.

Air Transport

New Flight to Link Almaty and Kyrgyzstan’s Karakol Ski Resort

As the winter tourism season approaches, Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned Asman Airlines has announced the launch of a new regular flight connecting Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, with the Kyrgyz town of Karakol, home to the country’s most popular ski resort. The Karakol-Almaty-Karakol route is set to begin operations on December 5, with flights scheduled every Friday and Sunday. The flight time is approximately 35 minutes. Asman Airlines will operate the Dash 8 Q400, a Canadian-made short-haul turboprop aircraft that can carry up to 80 passengers and has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers. Karakol is the highest ski resort in Central Asia, located at an altitude of 3,040 meters in the Tien Shan Mountains. The resort offers panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and nearby Lake Issyk-Kul. Situated just 7 kilometers from Karakol and 400 kilometers from Bishkek, it features ski trails suitable for both professional athletes and beginners. The ski season runs from December to March. The new air route is expected to significantly improve access to Karakol for weekend travelers from Kazakhstan’s commercial capital. In a related development, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have further enhanced air connectivity with the launch of a direct flight linking their capitals, Astana and Bishkek. On November 10, Kazakhstan’s Vietjet Qazaqstan operated its inaugural flight on the Astana-Bishkek route. The service runs twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Officials anticipate that the new flights will promote tourism, business, and cultural exchange between the two neighboring countries.