“Traditional values” have become a tool for manipulation
At the end of July, the KOLFEST festival will take place in the Ton district, which has become the center of a media scandal. Deputy Bolot Sagynaev demanded the cancellation of the event, claiming that it is associated with the “immoral behavior” of the participants. However, an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not confirm these accusations, including rumors about the promotion of LGBT and drug use.
The KOLFEST team believes that the deputy's actions are an attempt to influence the tourist attractiveness of the region in favor of other festivals at Issyk-Kul, which they believe could negatively affect the country's image.
The event organizers expressed their readiness for open dialogue with local residents and emphasized their commitment to respecting Kyrgyz traditions.
Nevertheless, this incident highlighted the problem of using “traditional values” as a means of competition in the region's tourist market.
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