Premiere of the documentary about Sadyr Japarov
In January, a new documentary series titled "President" by journalist Aibek Biibosunov was presented, dedicated to the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov. The four-part film, published on YouTube, covers key events in the political life of the country since October 2020, including changes in the power system and the fight against organized crime.The film focuses on the work of the cabinet of ministers, law enforcement agencies, and the presidential administration. Although many moments have already been expressed in official statements, new details have emerged in the series.
One of the most discussed episodes was the statements of the head of the GKNB, Kamchybek Tashiev, that he does not aspire to presidential power, emphasizing that his alliance with Japarov is based on friendship and shared views, while calling rumors of competition unfounded.
The events of October 2020 were also covered, when Japarov rejected a compromise that could have kept Sooronbay Jeenbekov in power, fearing consequences for stability.
The film also raised the topic of the fight against crime, where Japarov and Tashiev stated the ineffectiveness of preventive measures against criminal authorities, which led to harsh actions from the state.
Changes in the US visa regime for Kyrgyz citizens
In January, the United States introduced new visa restrictions for citizens of Kyrgyzstan. The State Department included Kyrgyzstan in the list of countries whose citizens may be required to post a bond when applying for B1/B2 visas under the Visa Bond program. These measures came into effect on January 21, 2026, and are aimed at combating overstays.The bond amount varies and can be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. Posting the bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and the return is possible only in the absence of visa violations. In case of violations, the bond is not refunded. Additionally, entry into the US is now only possible through airports in Boston, New York, and Washington.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan confirmed the introduction of the new rules, adding that they apply only to new applications and are related to the assessment of migration risks. Concerns were noted regarding the impact of the new measures on business and tourism ties.
Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov proposed reconsidering the visa-free regime for US citizens.
Amid this, news also emerged about the suspension of immigration visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, until the reassessment of visa procedures is completed.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Jeenbek Kulubaev, stated that the restrictions do not apply to those who are legally in the US, but noted that the bond amount is disproportionate to the incomes of most citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. Consultations with the American side are ongoing, but by the end of January, the situation remained unchanged.
Declarations of officials
At the beginning of the year, the State Tax Service published information about the income and property of government officials and their close relatives. These declarations allow for an assessment of the financial state of officials; however, in some cases, information about expenses is missing, and data about national security agency employees is not disclosed.Sadyr Japarov (for the year 2025). According to the data from the STS, the president earned 2.2 million soms. Expenses are not specified. His property includes:
- a business center with an area of 2,600 sq. m;
- a land plot of 0.63 ha;
- a garden plot of 2,100 sq. m;
- a passenger car worth 100,000 soms.
Leadership of the Jogorku Kenesh (for the year 2024). The STS published data on the income and expenses of the speaker and his deputies, including information about apartments and movable property.
A mini-table of key figures:
Who is missing from the STS reports. The declarations of the head of the GKNB and the deputy prime minister Kamchybek Tashiev, as well as several ministers, were not published. The STS explained that information about individuals related to security provision is not subject to public disclosure.
Statement by Deputy Shairbek Tashiev. It is noted that the deputy with an income of 2.5 million soms for 2024 declared movable property worth 12.6 billion soms, but did not specify its composition and sources.
Control and accountability. The Prosecutor General's Office reported that 2,882 officials were held accountable for violations in the submission of declarations for 2024, with a total amount of fines amounting to 13.7 million soms.
Rising prices for state mortgages
The issue of housing prices from the State Mortgage Company again came to the forefront in January - from discussions at the kurultai to comments from the president and clarifications from the GIK for those on the waiting list. Authorities acknowledge the rise in prices but claim that GIK housing is still cheaper than the market and is offered under conditions that private developers do not provide.President's position: "At cost - we will go bankrupt." In response to criticism of housing costs, Sadyr Japarov reminded that GIK mortgage programs are designed for 25 years without a down payment, and rates depend on the borrower's category.
- For "social" and "subsidized mortgages" - 4% per annum for 25 years without a down payment.
- "Cheap mortgage" for the private sector - 8% for 25 years without a down payment.
- Joint construction costs from $1,000 to $1,400 per sq. m, depending on location.
Prices and construction volumes. At the key handover ceremony in the Murass residential complex, Japarov explained that the cost of construction in Bishkek and the Chui region is about $700 per sq. m, and GIK adds about $250, setting the price at $950. According to him, private developers would charge at least $1,500 per sq. m for similar housing.
In 2025, 4,662 families received housing, while in 2024, 1,197 families did. More than 80,000 apartments are under construction in the country, and over 20,000 apartments are planned for commissioning in various regions in 2026.
In January, 1,080 families received keys to the second phase of the Murass residential complex. The complex is designed for 4,754 apartments and 2,500 parking spaces; however, the issue of parking remains unresolved.
Who may be denied an apartment. After the keys were handed over, Kaktus.media gathered the main reasons why GIK may deny the allocation of an apartment. These include owning housing at the time of the queue approaching, real estate transactions in the last three years, lack of official employment, and moving abroad for permanent residence. It is emphasized that each case is considered individually, and having active loans without delays is not an obstacle in itself.
Market and social criticism. Aman Kebekov, a specialist from the State Agency for Land Resources, stated that GIK's construction of houses has slowed the rise in housing prices in the market; however, prices continue to rise due to increasing material costs and land shortages.
At the same time, deputy Temirlan Aitiev criticized the situation with land allocation for GIK projects, stating that people who have been waiting for free plots for years are essentially receiving only quotas and are forced to buy apartments under general conditions, which he considers unfair.
Replacement of indefinite licenses
A mass replacement of indefinite driver's licenses of the old model has begun in Kyrgyzstan. Initially, it was planned that the free exchange would take place from January 15 to February 15; however, the deadlines were extended. For citizens changing indefinite licenses, the requirement for a medical certificate of form 083 was temporarily canceled.Indefinite licenses are now replaced with licenses valid for ten years. Licenses issued in 2009–2012 are subject to mandatory replacement.
Certificate 083 temporarily canceled. The head of the president's office, Kanaybek Tumanbaev, stated that holders of indefinite licenses can exchange them for free and without certificate 083. This decision was made in response to the rush and queues in medical centers in Bishkek.
How the exchange is going. The State Enterprise "Unaa" clarified that the procedure for free replacement is available only offline and exclusively for holders of indefinite licenses. In the first days of the campaign, there were large queues and limited capacity in the departments in Bishkek.
Online replacement through the "Tunduk" portal is temporarily unavailable due to service modernization, but the restoration of the service is planned after the application update.
If you miss it - the replacement will be paid. The State Enterprise "Unaa" reported that after the completion of the free campaign, indefinite licenses can be replaced on a paid basis for a fee of 779 soms.
Why replace indefinite licenses. Authorities explain the need for replacement by stating that old licenses are not digitized, have weak security features, and are not accepted in some countries. After the campaign ends, such documents will cease to be valid.
Presidential decree. It later became known that President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree on a temporary campaign for the free replacement of indefinite driver's licenses. The campaign will last until a separate decision is made by the authorized body and will be conducted without attracting additional budget funds.
Diplomatic scandal due to Solovyov's words
The statement by Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov about the possibility of Russia's military intervention in the internal affairs of Armenia and Central Asian countries caused diplomatic resonance and official reactions in several states in the region.Many believe that his words about the possibility of disregarding international law to maintain Russia's "sphere of influence" went beyond media discussion and became a foreign policy signal.
Armenia reacted most harshly to the statements, summoning Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin and handing over a note of protest, emphasizing the inadmissibility of such statements within the framework of allied relations.
In Kyrgyzstan, Solovyov's words also sparked public discussion. Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Dastan Bekeshev proposed considering the possibility of declaring the TV presenter a persona non grata, while the presidential administration urged not to attach great importance to these words. The president's press secretary, Askhat Alagozov, called the statement "empty and unserious," pointing out that Solovyov is not an official.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, stated that Bishkek does not consider it necessary to pay increased attention to provocative statements in the media landscape, noting that real relations are built at the level of official institutions and international organizations.
In Moscow, the situation was commented on by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Maria Zakharova emphasized that Russia's official position is formulated only by authorized persons and called for not interpreting the TV presenter's remarks as state policy.
Construction of football fields in the Botanical Garden
A discussion has unfolded in Bishkek regarding the construction of two mini-football fields in the Botanical Garden named after E. Gareev. The work is being carried out by the Presidential Administration at the central entrance from 7 April Street, where the foundation has already been poured, and the installation of fences has begun.The administration of the Botanical Garden and the National Academy of Sciences noted that construction is taking place on a rocky site where plants have previously failed to thrive, and the area of the fields is about 16 hundredths - less than 0.2% of the total space of the garden. Authorities also reported on planned renovations: drilling wells, implementing drip irrigation, and arranging paths and lighting.
Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Dastan Bekeshev expressed protest against the project, reminding that the Botanical Garden is the "lungs of the city" and is a specially protected natural area. His position was supported by ecologists and some residents. A petition for the preservation of the Botanical Garden appeared on social media, gathering more than a thousand signatures.
The presidential administration called the criticism populist, claiming that the area was previously in a neglected state, and the sports zone is intended for city residents, with the funds from its operation going to the maintenance of the garden. The president of the National Academy of Sciences, Kanat Abdrakhmatov, emphasized that the scientific part of the Botanical Garden is not affected.
Despite the protests, by the end of January, construction work on the mini-fields continued, and authorities announced their intention to complete the landscaping of the area by the summer season.
Monopoly on driving schools: ten months to obtain category B
In Kyrgyzstan, there has been a sharp increase in the duration of driver training: obtaining category B now requires ten months, while category C requires 12 months. This was announced by the head of the president's office, Kanaybek Tumanbaev, and his deputy Boobek Salimzhanov. The increase in duration is explained by the rise in accident rates and the need to tighten driver training.Salimzhanov noted that the training program for category B includes 480 hours and covers theory, traffic rules, vehicle structure, basics of safe driving, first aid, and legal norms. Enrollment in courses was planned to be organized through the "Tunduk" application. Authorities also emphasized that "bypassing" paths and the sale of documents are no longer permitted.
The decision has drawn criticism in parliament. Deputy Dastan Bekeshev stated that such durations may push young people to study abroad. Deputy Bolot Ibragimov also emphasized that the main problem of traffic accidents lies in corruption, not in the length of training.
Nonetheless, authorities insist that the goal of the reform is to improve road safety. President Sadyr Japarov, in an interview with "Kabar," emphasized that previously licenses were "bought," and longer training is necessary to restore order and reduce mortality on the roads.
As part of the reform, the operation of private driving schools has also been suspended. The president signed a decree stating that from January 30 to August 30, 2026, training will be conducted only in state driving schools. The cost of training will be 19,000 soms, and trainees will pay for fuel expenses themselves.
Simultaneously, authorities announced the introduction of traffic rules lessons in schools. Society perceives the reform ambiguously: some citizens consider it excessive, while authorities see it as a necessary step to end previous corrupt practices.
Podcast with Syimyk Japykeev
Former head of the GSBEP Syimyk Japykeev gave an interview lasting nearly three hours to journalist Ernist Kyazov. After the podcast was released, Kyazov was invited for a discussion at the GKNB. In the interview, Japykeev discussed politics, the events of October 2020, and criticism of the authorities, but his comments on the works of Chinghiz Aitmatov attracted the most attention.October 2020. Japykeev stated that if it were not for the protests on October 4, 2020, Sadyr Japarov "would have remained in the colony." He claims that first there were the rallies and the seizure of the White House, and then Japarov's supporters took him out of the colony. Japykeev also reported that after the events of October, his team held the White House until Japarov asked to hand over the building to him.
Statements about Aitmatov. Japykeev's statements about Chinghiz Aitmatov's works, which he called "five kopeck stories," caused a wide public resonance. Calls were made in the Jogorku Kenesh to give a legal assessment of such statements, and the Ministry of Culture and the Union of Writers of Kyrgyzstan also reacted to this.
Later, Japykeev stated that he did not intend to offend the writer but merely expressed his opinion about literature.
Statement about $10,000 from Japarov. In the podcast, Japykeev also mentioned that after the October events, he received $10,000 from Japarov "as support," without specifying the timing.
Reaction from the presidential administration. The head of the information policy service of the presidential administration, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, denied Japykeev's words that the president "was surrounded by several people," calling them lies and urging not to spread slander.
Journalist's summons to the GKNB. After the interview was released, Ernist Kyazov reported that he was invited for a discussion at the GKNB. According to him, the meeting went smoothly and lasted about an hour and a half, without pressure or complaints about his work.
Accusations against Eldar Sulaymanov of domestic violence
In January, a sensational scandal erupted in Kyrgyzstan after Asel Azamatova accused her ex-husband, Jogorku Kenesh deputy Eldar Sulaymanov, of systematic domestic violence.Azamatova stated that since 2018 she had been subjected to physical and psychological violence, including during her pregnancy, and had repeatedly approached the police, but to no avail. On social media, she published photos with bruises and described instances of violence that occurred in front of children.
After the publications, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the initiation of an investigation and promised to review all previous complaints. Azamatova noted that she had previously raised this issue publicly but refused to continue due to fear.
Eldar Sulaymanov rejected the accusations, claiming that this is a prolonged family conflict. He referred to the presumption of innocence, pointed out the lack of court decisions, and expressed his readiness for an objective investigation.
