In their letter, the authors emphasize that since 2021, the private sector has created the main infrastructure for electric vehicle charging at its own expense. By investing their own and borrowed funds, entrepreneurs have installed about 500 charging stations across Kyrgyzstan. As a result, by 2025, there are 15,278 registered electric vehicles in the country, which constitutes 0.8% of the total number of cars.
The development of ECS plays an important role in combating air pollution in Bishkek and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. According to the state program for the development of a green economy, it is planned to install 1,000 new charging stations by 2029. The private sector has already completed half of this plan, as stated in the letter.
However, entrepreneurs are currently facing "unprecedented systemic pressure."
Challenges with tariffs
According to information from the letter, the antimonopoly service is demanding that entrepreneurs lower charging service prices, disregarding the financial costs and debt obligations of the business, as well as the bureaucratic complexities associated with obtaining permits (it takes more than six months to process one document).
Restriction of access to networks
According to the letter, the Ministry of Energy has given verbal instructions to energy companies to stop issuing technical conditions for connecting new charging stations.
Suspension of permits
Since February 23, 2026, the Bishkek city administration and the government have mandated relevant services to halt the issuance of permits for the installation of charging stations on municipal land. This decision jeopardizes the functioning of businesses, potentially leading to employee layoffs and a reduction in tax revenues.
Operators of ECS emphasize that it is local entrepreneurs who have become pioneers in this field. They urge the authorities to intervene in the situation to ensure equal conditions for competition and to hold a working meeting involving officials and investors.
The transition to electric transport is one of the main directions in the fight against air pollution in Bishkek. Although the authorities have repeatedly emphasized the need to support "green" initiatives and businesses, entrepreneurs are increasingly facing bureaucratic obstacles and unfair competition from government institutions, as stated in the open letter.
Earlier, the Ministry of Justice reported that in 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers launched a government accelerator called "Simplifying the process of obtaining permits for the installation of electric charging stations for electric vehicles." As part of the pilot project, a simplified procedure for obtaining permits was implemented, unnecessary stages were eliminated, and some administrative norms were consolidated. As a result, all documentation is now prepared in 40 working days instead of the previous 130.
