Ramadan Begins
The holy month for Muslims, Ramadan, is expected to start on February 18. However, the date may shift by one day either forward or backward.Control Over Illegal Taxis
Starting February 1, the process of fining unlicensed taxi drivers will begin. According to the State Traffic Safety Department, around 30,000 people work in this sector, but only 7,000 of them have licenses. The possibility of extending the licensing deadlines was discussed in the Jogorku Kenesh due to concerns about a shortage of drivers; however, fines will still take effect from February. It is worth noting that the legalization was initially planned to be completed by December 2025, but the deadline was extended to February 1.Possible Increase in Taxi Fares
Deputy Dastan Bekeshev expressed concerns that after the fines begin, there may be a shortage of taxis, as not all drivers have managed to obtain licenses. This could lead to thousands of taxi drivers being left without work, and passengers may face increased fares for rides.“If a ride previously cost 200-300 soms, now be prepared for 700-800 soms. And this is without considering traffic jams and increased demand,” he noted.
New Driver Training System in Driving Schools
A state monopoly on driver training is being introduced in the country: now, training can only be conducted in state driving schools. The duration of training will be 10 months for obtaining a category B license and 12 months for category C. Enrollment in driving schools will begin in mid-February through the "Tunduk" portal.Participation of Athletes in the Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22 in Italy. Kyrgyzstan will be represented by two athletes: Artur Saparbekov in cross-country skiing (sprint and 10 km) and Timur Shakirov in alpine skiing (slalom and giant slalom).Preparation for Re-elections in District No. 13
The re-vote for the single-mandate district No. 13 is set for March 1, 2026. As of January 28, 27 candidates have been registered.Discussion of Bishkek's General Plan to Conclude
Residents of the capital will be able to submit their proposals for the general plan until February 7. After this date, according to information on the "Koomduk Talku" website, the public discussion will conclude, and the document will move to the next stage—correction, approval, or endorsement.Mandatory Navigation Seals from February 11
Starting February 11, 2026, mandatory tracking of goods transportation using navigation seals will be introduced in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. This measure will apply to the transportation of alcoholic products, tobacco, and tobacco products by road and rail.Requirement to Compensate for January Holidays Cancelled
In January, Kyrgyz citizens had a holiday until the 12th. Initially, the Ministry of Labor proposed to compensate for the additional holidays on February 7 and April 25 by moving working days to Saturdays. However, in the final version of the resolution, this idea was rejected, and there will be no need to make up for the January holidays.
