Kyrgyzstan Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

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Public Transport

Bishkek Metro Plans Resurface Despite High Costs and Low Demand

Bishkek is once again talking about building a metro, despite an assessment by the Kyrgyz capital's own planners that it would attract too few passengers and cost roughly ten times as much as a tram network. Officials have now raised it with French and European development partners. Plans for the new transport systems were discussed on October 9 by Bishkek First Deputy Mayor Kubanychbek Imanaliev, French Ambassador Nicolas Faye, and representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The French side expressed its willingness to help finance a feasibility study. Alexander Baranov, one of the developers of the city's master plan through 2050, said in December 2025 that a tram network would be much quicker to build and better suited to the city's passenger volumes. Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev said on October 2 that the city would consider building a metro if a viable project and investors emerged. Meanwhile, Bishkek is still struggling to provide enough buses. The mayor said on October 12 that the 1,600 buses purchased earlier were insufficient and that the fleet needs to expand to approximately 2,500. Bishkek's master plan through 2050, approved earlier this year, includes tram lines and a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, using dedicated bus lanes and specially equipped stops. This approach can carry more passengers and reduce travel times without requiring underground tunnels. The proposed tram network would connect several districts of the capital. A BRT line could link parts of the city with Manas International Airport. No construction timetable has been established. According to official estimates, the city's road network was originally designed for approximately 50,000 vehicles. Today, around 468,000 vehicles are registered in the capital, while as many as 700,000 use its streets daily when traffic from the suburbs and neighboring regions is included. Nearly 80% of Bishkek's registered cars were more than 15 years old, according to figures published by Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision in 2025. A World Bank study identified transport as one of the city's main pollution sources, accounting for approximately 27% of annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations. Bishkek regularly experiences severe smog, particularly in winter, when vehicle emissions are compounded by pollution from residential heating and other sources. Authorities previously proposed prioritizing public transportation and gradually reducing the use of private cars.

Agricultural Trade

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Apple and Potato Import Ban to Protect Domestic Farmers

Kyrgyzstan is considering temporary bans on apple and potato imports to prevent foreign produce from driving down prices during the domestic harvest season. The proposed apple import ban would remain in place until February 1, 2027, while potato imports would be restricted until March 1. The Ministry of Agriculture expects Kyrgyz farmers to harvest 179,400 metric tons of apples this year. Meanwhile, the country imported 6,400 tons between January and August, more than twice the amount imported during all of 2025. The main suppliers were Poland (3,600 tons), China (1,700 tons), and Uzbekistan (859 tons). Kyrgyz apple exports, by contrast, fell by 13.3% over the same eight-month period to 10,800 tons. The ministry is concerned that rising imports and declining exports could make it harder for local growers to sell their harvest without accepting lower wholesale prices. For potatoes, the government expects domestic production to cover the country's needs. The projected harvest is 1.25 million tons, compared with annual domestic consumption of approximately 800,000 tons. The ministry proposes restricting imports until spring to give farmers time to sell their crops. The proposals raise questions about Kyrgyzstan's obligations within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which guarantees the free movement of goods between member states. According to a published examination of the draft legislation, the apple ban would also cover imports from other EAEU countries, while the potato proposal does not specify whether these would be included. Under Article 29 of the EAEU Treaty, member states can restrict trade in certain circumstances, including to protect public health or national security. In September, Kazakhstan also introduced a ban on apple imports. The ban, which runs until December 31, extends to apples from other EAEU countries and specifically cites Article 29 of the Union's treaty. As recently as March, Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Agriculture said there were no grounds for restricting potato imports from China, citing, among other factors, the country's international trade obligations.

Election Campaign

Kyrgyzstan Presidential Election: What Has Changed Since 2020?

Kyrgyzstan’s presidential election is scheduled for January 27, 2027, with candidate nominations already open. Sadyr Japarov intends to run for a second term, but the political landscape bears little resemblance to the situation six years ago, when he came to power following the protests of October 2020. Since then, Kyrgyzstan has shifted from a parliamentary to a presidential model, rewritten its election rules, and changed its media legislation. Japarov’s political alliance with Kamchybek Tashiyev, the former chief of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), has collapsed. Tashiyev, until recently considered a possible successor to the president, has been convicted and remains under three years of probation supervision. Several other prominent politicians are facing criminal cases, while rallies in central Bishkek have been restricted. The Jogorku Kenesh, the national parliament, has scheduled the vote for a Wednesday rather than the traditional Sunday. The election law was changed twice: first, the vote was moved from autumn 2026 to January 2027, and then election day was moved from the fourth Sunday to the fourth Wednesday of January. “I intend to run for another term and continue my work,” Japarov said in an August 13 interview with investigative journalist Ali Toktakunov. Japarov’s right to run again required a separate interpretation by the Constitutional Court. In 2021, he won under the previous Constitution, which provided for a single six-year presidential term. A few months later, a new Constitution shortened the term to five years but allowed a president to hold office twice. In February, the Constitutional Court preserved the original six-year duration of Japarov’s current term, while ruling that he would continue exercising his powers under the 2021 Constitution. It also held that his current six-year mandate counts as his first term under the new two-term limit, allowing Japarov to run again. From Successor to Defendant A year ago, any discussion of the election inevitably led to Tashiyev. Japarov’s longtime ally headed the GKNB and was the country’s second center of political influence. Japarov later said that he had originally planned to step down after his first term and support Tashiyev. “Kamchy would become president, and I would retire. That was my plan,” he said in the interview with Toktakunov. That scenario collapsed after a group of 75 former officials, politicians, and public figures published an open letter on February 9 calling for an early presidential election. The following day, Japarov dismissed Tashiyev as head of the GKNB. A criminal case and trial followed. In July, Tashiyev and seven other defendants were found guilty of preparing to seize power by force. In September, the Bishkek City Court removed that charge and reclassified the case as obstruction of electoral rights. Under the current election law, people with a criminal conviction, including one that has later been expunged, are barred from being elected president. Tashiyev therefore cannot take part unless his conviction is overturned. Among other contenders, former acting Interior Minister and Batken regional governor Omurbek Suvanaliev has announced his intention to run. He has spoken...

Population

Kyrgyzstan Aging Population Puts Growing Pressure on Pension System

The number of people above working age in Kyrgyzstan has increased by more than 146,000, or 25%, over the past five years. The country still has a relatively young population, but the growing number of older people is nevertheless raising questions about the long-term sustainability of its pension system. At the beginning of 2026, Kyrgyzstan had a population of 7.4 million, including 737,000 people above the standard retirement age – 63 for men and 58 for women – accounting for about 10% of the population. Women outnumber men in this group by roughly two to one, as they not only tend to retire earlier but also live longer: 76.9 years compared with 68.7 years for men. For international demographic comparisons, the share of people aged 65 and older is more commonly used. In Kyrgyzstan, this group now accounts for 6.4% of the population and is projected to approach 7% around 2030. By comparison, people aged 65 and older make up about 9% of Kazakhstan’s population and roughly 18% in Russia, Belarus, and Moldova. This is not the only challenge facing the pension system. In 2025, the Social Fund – the country's pension pot – had about 1.46 million social insurance contributors and 816,600 pensioners, or roughly 1.8 contributors per pensioner. Social Fund officials have previously said that around three workers per pensioner are needed to maintain the system’s financial sustainability. One reason is the scale of informal employment. In 2024, it was estimated that more than 24% of employed people worked without formal registration. For the pension system, that means fewer workers making regular social insurance contributions. The National Statistical Committee estimated the unobserved economy at 19.5% of GDP in 2024, although its breakdown by economic activity excludes agriculture, which provides a livelihood for a large swathe of the country. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is developing a program to help older people remain healthy, economically active, and socially engaged as the population ages. The government says the measures are intended to improve quality of life in old age while reducing some of the economic and social pressures associated with an aging population.

GKNB

Maksat Asanaliyev Approved as Kyrgyzstan Security Service Chief

On September 2, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approved the appointment of Maksat Asanaliyev as chairman of the State Committee for National Security, the country’s main security and intelligence agency, usually known by its Russian acronym GKNB. Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, gave its consent to Asanaliyev’s appointment following a nomination by President Sadyr Japarov. His appointment was approved by 87 votes to zero, with lawmakers asking no questions about his candidacy. Asanaliyev, 48, spent around nine years as a GKNB investigator before moving to the prosecutor’s office in 2010. He later served as a district prosecutor in Bishkek and prosecutor of the Osh Region before becoming prosecutor general in June 2024. His tenure as prosecutor general also coincided with growing scrutiny of the GKNB following Tashiyev’s departure. In April, Asanaliyev told parliament that 386 complaints concerning GKNB officers had been received and that the Military Prosecutor’s Office was investigating 18 criminal cases involving alleged corruption and abuse of office. Nine GKNB officers had been held accountable, eight of whom were in custody and one under house arrest. The change at the top of the GKNB has attracted particular attention because of the agency’s political weight in Kyrgyzstan. From 2020, the committee was headed by Kamchybek Tashiyev, one of Japarov’s closest allies and, for several years, one of the most influential figures in the country. Under Tashiyev, the security service’s influence over Kyrgyzstan’s political and economic life grew significantly. After his departure in February 2026, Jumgalbek Shabdanbekov took over the GKNB. He remained in the post for about four months before leadership passed to Asanaliyev, who was appointed acting chairman by Japarov on June 30. Tashiyev’s political career, meanwhile, ended in a criminal case. In July, a court found the former GKNB chief and seven others guilty of preparing a violent seizure of power. All eight were sentenced to four years in prison, but the court replaced the custodial sentences with three years of probation supervision. The case is now before the Bishkek City Court on appeal, with prosecutors seeking prison terms while Tashiyev’s defense is seeking an acquittal. Tashiyev, meanwhile, was subsequently convicted in a criminal case. In July, a court found the former GKNB chief and seven others guilty of preparing a violent seizure of power. All eight were sentenced to four years in prison, but the court replaced the custodial sentences with three years of probation supervision. The case is now before the Bishkek City Court on appeal, with prosecutors seeking to replace the probation sentences with prison terms, while Tashiyev’s defense is seeking an acquittal.

Sadyr Japarov

Japarov Says Tashiyev Was His Planned Successor as Prosecutors Seek Nine-Year Terms

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov says he once planned to leave office in 2027 and support Kamchybek Tashiyev as his successor, before deciding that his longtime political partner was not ready for the presidency. The disclosure comes as prosecutors are asking an appeals court to impose nine-year prison terms on Tashiyev and seven other defendants in the “Letter of 75” case. Japarov set out the abandoned succession plan in an interview with journalist Ali Toktakunov released on August 13. He said he had expected to complete the six-year term he won in 2021, then leave politics if Tashiyev was ready to take over. “Kamchy would become president, and I would retire. I had such a plan,” Japarov said. The president said he had told Tashiyev about the plan roughly a year earlier and urged him to prepare for the presidency by imposing more discipline on the people around him. Japarov said he later concluded that Tashiyev was not ready. He cited the conduct of some of Tashiyev’s staff and associates, the appearance of the “Letter of 75,” and signs that parliament was being divided between supporters of the president and supporters of “the general,” a reference to Tashiyev. Japarov said he summoned Tashiyev and told him: “This won’t do. You cannot split people.” He said he informed Tashiyev that he would be removed from office, but claimed he was still prepared to allow him to contest the presidential election without obstruction. That account adds a succession dispute to the explanation Japarov gave when he dismissed Tashiyev on February 10 as chairman of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) and deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. At the time, the presidency said the decision was needed to “prevent a split in society” and state institutions. Senior GKNB officials were removed soon afterward, the border service was taken out of the hands of the committee, and parliamentary speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu resigned. Japarov has now drawn a sharp distinction between his personal relationship with Tashiyev and their political future. In another part of the interview, he said the two had been friends since 2005, and their families had been close. “He will remain my friend, but I have no plans to appoint him to any position,” Japarov said. He credited Tashiyev with making a major contribution during his five years at the GKNB, but said he should rest and consider where he had made mistakes. Japarov also confirmed for the first time himself that he intends to seek another term. “I intend to run for another term and continue my work,” he said, according to Reuters. His spokesman had said in 2024 that Japarov planned to run again, but the president had not previously made a public declaration of his own. He said a second term was needed to complete reforms already under way. Japarov also promised that rivals would be free to challenge him. “The road is open. Whoever wants to run, let them run,” he said, adding that there...