Kyrgyzstan is being prepared for renaming

A discussion about renaming the country is raging in Bishkek. The initiative was made by Deputy of the Parliament of the Republic Arslanbek Maliev, citing Kyrgyzstan’s confusion with Kurdistan abroad and the association of the word “stan” with the Middle Ages. This proposal follows recent changes to the national flag and work on a new anthem. The authorities believe that the change in state symbols is a natural phenomenon that highlights the growth of self–awareness and the development of society and the country. In this context, parliamentarians are considering the draft law “On the State Language” in the second reading.

The success of the initiative to change the flag, which belonged to President Sadyr Japarov, who associated it with the prosperity and independence of the country, does not guarantee such a result for renaming the state, unless the head of state is behind it. Japarov claimed that the new flag, with the sun’s rays spread out, “symbolizes the development of Kyrgyzstan.” The beams on the flag have been straightened, but whether life in the country has improved after these changes is an open question.

It should be recalled that then the deputies almost unanimously voted for the adoption of the new flag. Only Arslanbek Maliev abstained from voting. And that was only because he advocated radical changes – replacing the red color of the cloth with blue, considering it historically significant for the Kyrgyz people and associated with the legendary Manas (hero of the Kyrgyz epic).

Now Maliev’s proposal to rename the country is seen as a continuation of the republic’s desire for deeper, symbolic transformations of national identity.

The issue of renaming the country has been raised before. Especially after the high-profile scandal in 2022, when at the Miss Universe beauty pageant, the presenter confused Kyrgyzstan with Kazakhstan, representing a participant from Bishkek. After this incident, former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Felix Kulov proposed changing the name of Kyrgyzstan to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. As he remarked at the time, it was a “long-term proposal.”

Apparently, these times have come. Felix Kulov was loyal to the deputy’s initiative, explaining that “the name of the country – Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan or Kirghizia – has been used since May 25, 1925, when the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Region was transformed into the Kyrgyz Autonomous Region. “Up to this point in the centuries–old history of our people, the term “Kyrgyzstan” has not been used,” Kulov stressed, noting that “stan” (from the Persian camp, parking lot) began to be applied to republics that were previously part of the Turkestan Soviet Republic.

Kulov also recalled that he had proposed other variants of the country’s name using the traditional term “el” or “zher”. And then, instead of “Kyrgyzstan”, the country would be called “The Republic of Kyrgyz El” or “The Republic of Kyrgyz Zher” like the “Republic of Mari El”.

“The changes in some state symbols that have occurred in our country recently are a completely natural phenomenon. The growth of national consciousness, the rethinking of many well-established stereotypes leads to a revision of what previously seemed unshakable. We will not get away from this,” Kulov believes. In addition, as the politician said, many attach great importance to the catch phrase “Whatever you call a ship, it will sail.”

According to Igor Shestakov, director of the Oh Ordo Center for Expert Initiatives (CEI), President Sadyr Japarov has significantly changed the republic in almost four years of his rule, launching large–scale infrastructure projects such as the construction of the China–Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan railway and resolving a number of important border issues with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Economic indicators show positive dynamics: Kyrgyzstan became a leader in industrial production in the Eurasian Economic Union, achieving a budget surplus of $500 million in the first quarter of 2025, income growth of 69.2% (to 193.1 billion soms) and GDP of 13.1%. The key factors were the growth of the food industry (+71%), construction (+69%) and investment in fixed assets (+90%).

“However, despite the positive figures, there are still unresolved problems, primarily related to job creation and decent wages, which force Kyrgyz citizens to labor migration. Despite the tightening of migration laws in Russia and the attractiveness of other countries, Kyrgyzstanis still choose the Russian Federation, as well as other prosperous countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. According to various estimates, up to 100,000 Kyrgyz citizens have left for the United States, and they intend to restrict the entry of migrants. Setting up small businesses, no matter how good it looks in statistics, does not solve systemic problems. President Japarov’s emphasis on transport projects and tourism development, including the establishment of a state-owned enterprise for the management of Issyk-Kul and the construction of a new airport terminal in the village of Tamchi, indicates an understanding of the need for deep socio–economic transformations that can improve the lives of the population and reduce labor migration,” Igor Shestakov told NG.

However, on Wednesday, the deputies were busy considering the draft law “On the State Language” in the second reading. The Parliament is trying to replace the Russian language with Kyrgyz in all areas (see NG dated 05/22/25). The new bill on the state language contradicts at least 13 articles of the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, as some deputies, lawyers and analysts say; but the overwhelming majority in parliament is ready to support the initiative of the National Commission and radically change the language policy in the country, said deputy and lawyer Gulya Kozhokulova.

“If the amendments and additions are contrary to the Basic Law, it means that a priori the rights of our citizens are unprotected. And this should not be allowed,” Kozhokulova said during the round table “To fine or develop: legislative mechanisms for a balanced language policy of Kyrgyzstan”, organized by the CEE “Oi Ordo”.

The experts concluded that the process of ousting the Russian language, which has the constitutional status of the official language in the republic, occurs primarily under the influence of external forces. According to military expert and veteran of the Kyrgyz special services Nurlan Dosaliev, various initiatives allegedly aimed at developing national languages in the region, especially those put forward since 2022, are subordinated to the global geostrategic plans of the Western bloc countries and Turkey to separate Central Asia in general and Kyrgyzstan in particular from the Russian world and distance themselves from Russia.