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Citizens of Kyrgyzstan Can Now Choose Traditional Surnames Under New Law

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has approved a bill allowing citizens to adopt surname spellings that reflect national traditions and historical heritage, rather than the conventional Russian-style endings. The legislation passed its third and final reading. MP Mirlan Samyakozho, one of the bill’s authors, explained that the changes will allow citizens to choose surnames without Russian endings while retaining the option to keep them. According to amendments to the Family Code and the Law on Civil Status Acts, new naming formats can now be used in official documents. Specifically: The suffix "uulu" (meaning "son of") may be added to male names. The suffix "kyzy" (meaning "daughter of") may be used for female names. Other variations using the genitive and initial case endings will also be permitted, such as "dyn/tyn," "din/tin," "dүn/tүn" for boys and "dan/tan," "den/ten," "dөn/tөn" for girls. In these cases, a patronymic name will no longer be required. Under the new law, a name like Baktybekov Uson Zhakshylykovich could now be recorded as: Baktybekov tegi Uson Baktybektegi Uson Zhakshylyktyn Baktybek Uson Baktybek Uson Zhakshylyk uulu Similarly, Baktybektegi Nurgul Zhakshylykovna could now be recorded as: Baktybektegi Nurgul Baktybektegi Nurgul Zhakshylyktan Baktybek Nurgul Baktybek Nurgul Zhakshylyk kyzy Following Kyrgyzstan’s independence in the 1990s, many citizens adopted traditional Kyrgyz surnames incorporating "uulu" and "kyzy." However, in the 2000s, a mass return to Russian-style surnames occurred, which authorities attributed to increasing external migration. The new law is intended to restore the option for Kyrgyz citizens to preserve their historical naming traditions in official documents.

visas statistics passport

Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Global Passport Power Ranking 2025

Kazakhstan has secured the top spot among Central Asian countries, ranking 52nd globally in the latest Passport Index by Canadian consulting firm Arton Capital. The ranking evaluates passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free or with a visa on arrival. Kazakhstan’s passport allows visa-free travel to 46 countries and visa-on-arrival access to 50 more, totaling 96 destinations. However, Kazakh citizens still require visas for 102 destinations. Uzbekistan ranks 68th, climbing two places from 2024. Uzbek passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 32 countries and can obtain visas on arrival for 46 more. Visas are required for 120 destinations. Kyrgyzstan stands at 78th in the global ranking. Its citizens can travel visa-free to 30 countries and obtain visas on arrival in 48. Like Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz nationals need visas for 120 destinations. Tajikistan ranks 80th, with its citizens able to visit 27 countries visa-free and 46 with a visa on arrival. Tajik nationals require visas for 125 destinations. Turkmenistan is 85th globally, the lowest among Central Asian nations. Turkmen passport holders have visa-free access to 18 countries and visa-on-arrival privileges for 50 destinations but need visas for 130 countries. Globally, the United Arab Emirates retains its position as the most powerful passport, followed by Spain, France, Germany, and Belgium. Several countries share the same rank; for instance, German, Belgian, and Italian citizens can visit 133 countries visa-free and obtain visas on arrival in 45 countries.

Legislation Migration Turkey Human rights restrictions passport

Turkmen Authorities Prevent Turkmen-Turkish Family Reunifications

Turkish citizens have reported difficulties faced by their wives, citizens of Turkmenistan, who have been banned from leaving the country after renewing their passports. Women who returned to Turkmenistan to apply for new passports have been denied exit at Ashgabat airport. Authorities cited violations of the “legislation of the country of stay,” referencing paragraph 9 of part 1 of Article 30 of Turkmenistan’s Law On Migration. This law prohibits citizens who have previously violated the laws of the country of stay from leaving Turkmenistan for five years. However, no explanation has been provided for why this regulation applies to the affected women. Turkish spouses insist their wives did not violate any laws abroad and were legally residing in Turkey. Arslan Rustem, a Turkish citizen, shared his experience: “I married a Turkmen citizen in July 2022. My wife was legally living in Turkey, but when her passport expired, she returned to Turkmenistan to replace it. After receiving a new document, she was not allowed to leave.” Rustem emphasized that there were no legal issues with their marriage or residency. Similarly, Mahmut Uchar encountered the same problem. He was advised by the Turkmen Consulate in Istanbul that his wife must travel to Turkmenistan to renew her passport after changing her surname. “We were assured the entire process would take no more than a month. But a year later, my wife is still unable to return to Turkey,” he explained. This predicament has impacted dozens of families. Women have filed complaints with various government agencies in Turkmenistan, including the Presidential Administration, but no resolution has been provided. Appeals from Turkish organizations advocating for family reunification have also gone unanswered. The Migration Service of Turkmenistan has not commented on the legal basis for applying the travel restriction. Husbands of the affected women have expressed confusion and frustration, believing that these actions infringe upon their families’ rights. Turkmenistan frequently restricts its citizens’ travel abroad for a variety of reasons. These measures include travel bans on individuals with outstanding bank loans, parents of minor children, and citizens whose relatives have criminal records spanning three generations. Passports are often confiscated at airports until debts are paid in full. The government has also imposed restrictions following incidents involving Turkmen citizens abroad, citing security concerns. These policies have drawn criticism from human rights activists, who have called on Turkmen authorities to lift unwarranted restrictions on freedom of movement.

Legislation Language Citizenship passport

New Requirements for Citizenship Approved in Kazakhstan

Updated requirements for obtaining citizenship in Kazakhstan, approved by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, came into force on October 8. According to the new legislation, applicants for citizenship or persons restoring it must demonstrate a basic knowledge of the state language, the basics of the Constitution, and an understanding of the country's history. The minimum thresholds are 36 points in the Kazakh language, 9 points in the basics of the Constitution, and 15 points in the history of Kazakhstan. The exam, conducted on a quarterly basis by National Testing Center (NTC), takes two hours and ten minutes with an additional 30 minutes for people with special needs. Of the 100 tests set under three categories, 60 questions relating to the Kazakh language, include 20 listening and 40 reading tasks; the Constitution section covers 15 issues, and the history of Kazakhstan, 25. Applicants must achieve a score of at least 60 points to pass the exam, and if successful, will be issued with an electronic certificate valid for two years. The prerequisites for new requirements for knowledge of the state language and the history of Kazakhstan for obtaining citizenship relate to the government's efforts to strengthen national identity, dictated by the need to integrate new citizens into society and the growing public demand for support of the Kazakh language. The amendments are based on the practices of other countries, including Germany, Canada, and Turkey. For example, Germany requires applicants for citizenship to have a high level of German language proficiency and respect for German cultural traditions. In Canada, applicants must understand the history and responsibilities of citizenship and take an English or French language test, depending on the province. Similarly, Turkey requires applicants to demonstrate a knowledge of the Turkish language.

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UAE Player Fails to Attend World Cup Qualifiers Due to Fake Uzbekistan Passport

On October 15 , Uzbekistan's national football team will compete against the UAE in the 3rd round of the 4th round of the World Cup Qualifiers. According to a report issued by the Uzbekistan Football Federation, Fabio de Lima, a Brazilian player in the UAE, will not be joining his team in Uzbekistan for personal reasons. It transpires that although Fabio de Lima received citizenship in Uzbekistan in 2013 and was registered as an Asian legionnaire in the UAE Championship, his documents were fake. Uzbek football specialist Alisher Nikibayev however, claims there is no legal reason preventing the player from entering Uzbekistan: “They are asking if Fabio can come to Uzbekistan. I don’t see any legal obstacle to it; it is unlikely that a criminal case was opened against him. In addition, it is necessary to check the statute of limitations for such violations. Don’t forget that Fabio, as a citizen of Uzbekistan, has never seen his ‘passport’ and, of course, has never used it anywhere. This fake document was only needed to enter the Emirates Championship. Why is he not coming? He fears the case is still open and doesn’t want to take any chances. As for his UAE passport, everything is legal in the Emirates."

Civil Rights Migration passport Legislation Human rights

Turkmenistan Forces Government Employees to Surrender Passports

Employees of state institutions in Turkmenistan are being forced to surrender their biometric passports. According to local sources, the migration service has been instructed to collect passports within a week and submit a report to the State Migration Service in Ashgabat. Workers from the education, healthcare, transportation and other sectors must surrender their passports, or provide a certificate to prove that they do not possess one. The requirement was verbally sent to state agencies in the country's Balkan region on September 9, and enforcement began immediately. “The heads of local organizations have announced to their employees: 'Either hand in your passports or don't come to work from tomorrow afternoon.' Even chief doctors at clinics and school directors must hand in their passports,” a state employee in the town of Turkmenbashi said. Attempts to get comments from the authorities on the measure -- which coincides with an increase in the number of citizens traveling abroad -- were unsuccessful. In addition, as the number of Turkmenistanis joining Russia's army in its war in Ukraine increases, passports have also been taken away from university students. In late August, students of the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute and the Turkmen State Medical University were forced to surrender their biometric documents.