Our People Abroad: Why Biotechnologist Aizhamal Zhenishova Swapped Issyk-Kul for Yakutia — An Honest Tale of Smog, Queues, and Northern Hospitality

Юлия Воробьева • 05.01.2026, 12:50 • Society

Turmush continues to introduce readers to Kyrgyzstani people who live, study, and work abroad. 26-year-old Aizhamal Zhenishova found her love and stayed in Yakutia. Correspondent
Aizhamal was born in the village of Munduz, in the Jeti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region. She currently lives in Mirny, Yakutia, and is on maternity leave after graduating from the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn with a degree in "biotechnology."
“I came in 2021 with the intention of staying for just one year, but I ended up staying here. I like living in Russia — people’s rights are protected here, and laws are enforced. Mirny is a calm city where representatives of various nationalities live: Russians, Evenks, Yakuts, Buryats, Altaians, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Azerbaijanis, Ossetians, as well as new migrants from Africa. Unlike in Moscow, Russians here do not show negativity towards migrants. In kindergartens and schools, children communicate in Russian, despite the differences in nationalities,” she shares.
Aizhamal noted that having an insurance policy allows for free medical assistance, while migrants are required to purchase temporary policies — this is strictly monitored. According to her, in Kyrgyzstan, she faced situations where hospitals often demanded money, which upset her greatly, as receiving help in her home country turned out to be difficult.
Mirny is a small but cozy city that she quickly got used to. When she returns to Kyrgyzstan, she is exhausted by the traffic jams and the rush of people, and in winter, smog adds to the discomfort. The winter here is beautiful but very cold, with temperatures dropping to -50 degrees; however, homes are warm. The woman noted that the residents of Mirny are kind and honest, and children can play outside until late evening while the doors of houses remain open.
She came to Yakutia intending to stay for just a year, got a job at a shoe store, and there she met her future husband, which became one of her main achievements in life.
“My husband is Kyrgyz; he moved to Yakutia at the age of six, and his family settled here. My mother always said, ‘Get married in Issyk-Kul, don’t go far away.’ In the end, I found myself in the far north. We communicated for about a year, then he visited Kyrgyzstan and met my parents. We had our wedding in Mirny, and my parents often come to visit us,” Aizhamal said.
Initially, it was very difficult for her, especially because of the cold. She recalls how her feet froze for the first time, and she couldn’t reach the market. For about a year, she complained to her sisters, but after meeting her husband, she decided to stay in Yakutia.
There are many Kyrgyz in Mirny who support each other in joy and sorrow, gathering together for celebrations.
“Now, being on maternity leave, I engage in various hobbies, and we go outside rarely. In my free time, I read, make candles, and grow plants. Recently, I’ve become interested in blogging about life in Yakutia,” she added.
After her maternity leave, Aizhamal plans to return to her profession and open a laboratory, while dreaming of returning to Kyrgyzstan to contribute to its development.
They have been married for three years and have one child. Aizhamal's husband is from the Alay district of the Osh region and works for a diamond mining company,” she reported.

Read also:

Write a comment: