Starting from 2025, mandatory insurance in Kyrgyzstan entered an active phase: the OSAGO policy became necessary for all drivers, and housing insurance turned into a real support tool in emergency situations. In an exclusive interview, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the State Insurance Organization (GSO), Salavat Sadyrakunov, discusses issues related to the number of car owners without policies, differences in insurance between cities and villages, as well as protecting farmers from natural disasters.
- From July 1, 2025, the OSAGO policy became mandatory for all drivers. What is the current statistics of insured car owners and how many of them remain without policies?
- By the end of 2025, more than 1,114,300 car owners had obtained policies from insurance companies, including GSO, covering approximately 60-70% of the country's vehicle fleet. This means that about 30-40% of vehicles still do not have insurance coverage.
Among the insured clients, 19.8% chose GSO. We are observing an increase in coverage levels due to greater public awareness and stricter enforcement of legislation.
- There are periodic calls on social media and among residents of apartment buildings to postpone the implementation of fines. How does GSO handle appeals, and will there be a shortage of forms in case of mass inspections?
- GSO has sufficient resources to service the current flow of clients. We have a branch network covering all regions of the country, which allows us to coordinate work effectively.
The OSAGO policy can also be obtained remotely through mobile applications and our website gso.kg, which significantly reduces the burden on offices and minimizes the risk of queues.
Since the beginning of July 2025, more than 357,000 vehicles have been insured through GSO, and overall coverage across all companies is about 60-70%. Currently, there are no signs of a shortage of forms or mass queues.
- Some deputies claimed that "OSAGO only fills the budget." Can you explain what portion of insurance premiums goes to payouts and what portion goes to the budget?
- It is important to emphasize that the OSAGO insurance premium is not a tax. All funds from insurance contributions go to the formation of insurance reserves, which are used exclusively for insurance payouts, creating mandatory reserves, and ensuring the financial stability of the company.
Payouts are made to victims of traffic accidents within established liability limits. Part of the funds goes to cover the costs of conducting insurance activities, as provided by law. Thus, insurance premiums are not intended to replenish the state budget but are directed towards the financial protection of citizens.
- What is the average payout period for OSAGO or housing insurance after incidents? People complain about bureaucracy. Is a transition to digital settlement expected?
On average, payouts for OSAGO or housing insurance (for example, after a fire) take 2-3 weeks after the submission of a complete set of documents. The main factor determining the timeframe is the confirmation of the insurance event and the assessment of damages.
For traffic accidents, materials from the State Traffic Safety Department are needed, and for fires, a certificate from the competent authority and documents confirming the extent of the damage. The faster the complete set of documents is collected, the quicker the payout process goes.
Regarding digitalization, we are gradually implementing electronic settlement. Some processes have already been automated, and we plan to reduce the number of personal visits and the time for consideration. Our goal is to make the process as convenient as possible for people who find themselves in difficult situations.
- According to last year's data, less than 17% of housing is insured in Bishkek, while in the regions, this figure exceeds 30%. What is the reason for such low activity among city dwellers? Is it distrust in the system or a lack of information?
- The difference in indicators is due to the peculiarities of risk perception and lifestyle. In the regions, people more often face natural threats, which contributes to a quicker realization of the need for insurance protection.
In large cities like Bishkek, some property owners consider themselves relatively protected, especially in high-rise buildings. Housing insurance is not always viewed as a means of protecting property and budget. We do not associate this with distrust in the system; rather, the problem lies in insufficient information and the formation of a culture of insurance protection. As awareness increases, the level of coverage will rise.
- Many Kyrgyz citizens perceive mandatory housing insurance (600 soms in villages, 1200 in cities) as a hidden tax. What real assistance did those whose homes were affected by natural disasters in 2025 receive? Please provide examples of payouts.
- Insurance is a mechanism of mutual protection, not a tax. The insurance premium is 600 soms per year in rural areas and 1200 soms in cities, while the insurance payout can reach 500,000 soms for rural housing and 1,000,000 soms for urban housing (depending on the damages).
In just the first two months of 2026, victims of fires and natural disasters received over 65,000,000 soms in payouts. For a family that lost their home due to a fire or flood, such a payout is real assistance for recovery without debt obligations.
- The government has mandated civil servants to insure their homes under the threat of sanctions. How successful has this measure been, and is there a plan to impose fines on citizens for not having property insurance?
- Measures concerning civil servants are aimed at increasing discipline and setting a personal example in matters of insurance culture. According to preliminary data, the level of insurance among this category has indeed increased.
As for fines for ordinary citizens, the current focus is on informing and raising the significance of insurance protection. The main goal is to improve the protection of the population, not to impose punitive measures.
- Recently, the creation of a "common insurance pool" for housing protection was announced. How will this affect ordinary citizens and the reliability of the company?
- The creation of a common insurance pool involves pooling the resources of insurance companies to cover large and systemic risks. This will provide additional stability to the entire insurance system, especially in the face of large-scale natural disasters. Pooling resources will allow for risk distribution and reduce the burden on individual companies, which, in turn, will enhance the guarantees of insurance payouts.
- In February 2026, the parliament will consider a bill on agricultural insurance. Does GSO plan to insure crops against drought or frost, and what will be the cost for farmers?
- The issue of agricultural insurance is being actively developed. For Kyrgyzstan, where agriculture is crucial for the economy and employment, this is strategically important. We are considering mechanisms for insuring crops against drought, frost, and other natural risks. Our task is to create a sustainable and understandable system that will work effectively in the interests of farmers.
GSO is ready to participate in the implementation of this program provided that clear rules, transparent tariffs, and a balanced risk distribution model are defined. We will pay special attention to ensuring that the cost of insurance is affordable for agricultural producers. Specific parameters will be announced after the legislative and financial developments are completed.
- Is GSO studying the experience of other countries, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, or China?
- GSO systematically studies international experience in the development of the insurance market, including practices of neighboring countries. We pay attention to issues of digitalization, automation of loss settlement, and reserve formation. At the same time, any foreign solutions are adapted to our legislation and the peculiarities of the domestic market to implement best practices for enhancing the reliability and convenience of insurance services for the citizens of Kyrgyzstan.
