He emphasized that the Kyrgyz people have a rich history and roots, which makes them happy. Muratbekov, who has experience studying in China, recalled how he dreamed of traveling to other countries, but many Kyrgyz students abroad dream of seeing their homeland at least once and getting to know their ancestors.
The deputy noted that there was a key moment in the country's history when Kyrgyzstan began its path to independence thanks to the efforts of the first leaders.
“I urge the youth to take advantage of the opportunities left to us by our ancestors to build a bright future,” he added.
However, Muratbekov also pointed out the lack of an independent body that deals with youth policy in Kyrgyzstan.
For comparison, he cited examples from other countries: in Uzbekistan, there is a Youth Affairs Agency with 700 employees in the central office and about 10,000 across the republic; in Kazakhstan, there is a committee with 50 employees and a budget of 12 million dollars; and in Russia, there is also a federal agency.
In Kyrgyzstan, youth policy falls under the Ministry of Culture, which has only seven specialists. Although some functions have been delegated to the district level, this often remains on paper. Even with the recent increase in staff, the ministry still has only seven specialists working in this area.
A recent meeting with the president took place, during which he expressed support for youth initiatives.
“We proposed to create a Youth Affairs Council under the Jogorku Kenesh, for which we are grateful to Speaker Marlen Mamataliyev, who has already signed the relevant decree,” noted Muratbekov.
The newly established Council will serve as a platform for interaction between parliament deputies and the youth of the country. The Council will include deputies, representatives of government agencies, local councils, young activists, and specialists from various fields. They will meet quarterly to discuss current issues and proposals from the youth.
The deputy also mentioned the youth parliament in Uzbekistan, where active students have the opportunity to work as public assistants to deputies.
“We plan to select 90 active young people from across the country. After two months of training, they will be assigned to deputies as assistants,” he added.
The Youth Affairs Council will operate on a voluntary basis, and young activists are ready to develop projects to receive financial support from international organizations.
