A draft law was also presented in the Jogorku Kenesh, which proposes to expand state support for families, including the appointment of benefits for all children up to 12 years old. For needy families, it is proposed to extend payments up to 16 years. The draft law also provides for a monthly supplement of 5,000 soms for heroic mothers, of whom there are more than 31,000 in the country. In addition, the document proposes to abandon "property surveys" when assessing need, based on the total income of the family.
The licensing period for taxi drivers in Kyrgyzstan has been extended until July 1, 2026. Currently, licenses have been issued to more than 8,000 individual drivers and over 300 legal entities.
The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has kept the discount rate at 11%. The regulator noted a high rate of economic growth, which amounted to 11.1% at the end of 2025, thanks to the dynamic development of the construction sector and services. Investment activity is also supported by increased budget financing and inflows of remittances.
As of January 16, 2026, inflation in the republic was 9.4% year-on-year. Despite the slowdown in food price growth, the cost of non-food goods and services remains high due to various external factors and a revision of tariff policies. The National Bank maintains strict monetary conditions to bring inflation back to the target level of 5–7% in the medium term.
On Thursday morning, the parliament began not with discussions of draft laws, but with talks about... official cars. The parking lot in front of the Jogorku Kenesh was full: deputies arrived one after another in new cars that had been issued to them the day before. All the cars are the same, new, and black. Most parliamentarians preferred not to discuss the update of the vehicle fleet.
Sources have revealed that deputies received official cars without drivers, so they will have to hire them independently. All expenses for the maintenance of the cars, including the programming of onboard computers, will be borne by the deputies themselves. Documents have been signed regarding material responsibility for the provided transport. The cars are selected from the mid-luxury class and cost between $30,000 and $50,000.
In 2026, more than a billion soms will be allocated for the transition to 12-year education. The same amount was allocated last year. The bulk of the funds will go towards new textbooks — 815 million soms.
The Jogorku Kenesh Committee on Constitutional Legislation reviewed three options for a new anthem, but all proposals were rejected. Experts and deputies noted that the presented compositions do not meet the high requirements of a state symbol. Commission members will continue to work on the ideal option, which must be presented by April 2026. Specialists also emphasized that the current anthem has a high artistic level of text and music. The idea of replacing the anthem emerged in 2024 at the initiative of the speaker of parliament and was supported by the president.
More detailed information about what else was interesting and important discussed by journalists 24.kg can be found in our review.
The new anthem of the country: why the loud initiative has hit a dead end
Photo 24.kg. In Kyrgyzstan, there are attempts to change all state symbols, but the anthem is not so simple
The competition for a new anthem of Kyrgyzstan, which began in early 2025, faced numerous difficulties. The first stage of selection was unsuccessful, as the commission did not accept any of the submitted texts. A new competition had to be announced, and the deadlines were postponed to the fall. As a result, five texts were selected, and musical accompaniment options were chosen from another competition. We tried to understand why the attempt to change one of the main state symbols of the country turned out to be so complicated from the outset. What are the goals of this initiative and what ideological message does it contain?
Reform of driving schools in Kyrgyzstan: a reboot of the system or a crisis for private operators?
Since the beginning of 2026, a large-scale reform of the driver training system has begun in Kyrgyzstan, which effectively places the training in driving schools under strict state control. The changes affect one of the most populous areas of educational services. However, instead of a smooth transition, the market has faced uncertainty, suspension of operations, and the closure of dozens of driving schools.
Working abroad: how to earn 300,000 soms and not become a victim of fraud
In recent years, more and more citizens of Kyrgyzstan are going abroad for legal work. About the available directions, how selection is carried out, what difficulties labor migrants face, and how to avoid fraud, 24.kg spoke with Baktybek Kudayberdiev, director of the Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad under the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Migration.
Trump's selective "Council of Peace": what does it mean for Central Asia
Invitations to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the "Council of Peace," initiated by Donald Trump without the participation of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, have divided expert opinions into two camps. Some believe this raises concerns, while others are confident that such selective politics will not affect the integrity of Central Asia as a geopolitical player. They also do not see any prerequisites for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to shift into the economic and infrastructural orbit of China, finding themselves on the periphery of U.S. interests. This material presents the opinions of political analysts.
Hijama for infants: how faith in "folk healing" led to a tragedy in Uzgen
The death of a one-and-a-half-month-old boy in Uzgen after a hijama (bloodletting) procedure caused a wide resonance in society. "This is not treatment, but cruelty. Quack doctors and myths are not worth a child's life," some say, while others continue to practice and receive this procedure.
GDP is growing, prices are pressing: why Kyrgyz citizens do not feel the economic upturn
The study "Listening to the Kyrgyz Republic," conducted by the World Bank since 2021 based on regular household surveys, reveals a paradox of the Kyrgyz economy: despite confident and stable growth in macroeconomic indicators, the subjective perception of citizens' well-being is not growing as quickly or evenly. The document covers the period from 2022 to the third quarter of 2025 and allows for a comparison of overall economic data with people's everyday lives.
How a Kyrgyz artist exports "neuroart" to private collections in Europe and the USA
At the Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev, an unusual exhibition is taking place that breaks stereotypes about the local art market. Ilgiz Edilson, an artist of a new formation, whose works are already in private collections in Switzerland, the UK, Iceland, and Italy, presented the project "Anatomy of Human Emotions." This is not just painting, but a visual exploration at the intersection of neurobiology, marketing, and cultural anthropology.
Series premieres February 2–8: thrillers about anomalies and crime dramas
The first week of February (from the 2nd to the 8th) will be filled with new premieres: viewers will see thrilling stories of survival in anomalous conditions, family dramas about seeking forgiveness, and sharp action films about fighting extremism. The focus will be on the return of well-known characters in new seasons and bold comedies about life in the Parisian underground.
