Recent videos in which deputies failed to answer basic questions about road signs have led to parliamentarians starting to avoid communication with journalists. This unexpected behavior contrasts with their previous willingness to give interviews, and now many of them try to avoid being seen by representatives of the NTRK to escape scrutiny of their knowledge of traffic rules.
Especially memorable was the reaction of Erulan Kokulov. The deputy, who gained popularity through the project "Not Sugar," where he asked uncomfortable questions to restaurant owners, found himself unprepared to answer questions. With a serious face, Kokulov stated that he had neither the time nor the desire to answer questions, which drew mockery from social media users. They ironically noted that a person used to "tormenting" businessmen suddenly remembered the right to personal space when it came to his own competence.
Perhaps Kokulov is indeed immersed in concerns for the country, or maybe he is worried about dissatisfaction from the media. Let us recall that recently he expressed the opinion that there are "no journalists left" in Kyrgyzstan, accusing them of editing videos to portray him in a bad light. "I know the journalism law better than you... You are not journalists," he stated, adding that the negative attitude towards him is related to his refusal to "pay the media" for positive coverage.
We cannot help but remember Deputy Kamchybek Zholdoshbaev, who also complained about the media, pointing out that his face looks "unnaturally red" on air.
Other parliamentarians preferred an ironic approach. For instance, Janar Akayev shifted the conversation to education reform, suggesting that information about the type of driving school—state or private—be added to driver's licenses. When asked if he had studied himself, Akayev evaded the question, not confirming his theoretical knowledge.
This behavior of lawmakers raises a legitimate question: how can those who create laws demand discipline from citizens if they themselves cannot pass a test on knowledge of road signs? Currently, journalists are faced only with closed doors and disgruntled faces of those who yesterday demanded reports from the entire country.
