Significant changes in the passenger transportation market are expected in Kyrgyzstan starting February 1, 2026, which could lead to a serious crisis. Deputy Dastan Bekeshev expressed his concern regarding the introduction of mandatory licensing for taxi drivers, stating that this could not only result in a shortage of vehicles but also cause social tension. According to the parliamentarian, the cost of a ride, which currently ranges from 200 to 300 soms, could rise to 700 to 800 soms after the law comes into effect. This will become a heavy burden for parents who need to transport their children to schools, especially given the lack of educational institutions nearby.
In addition to rising prices, Bekeshev points to the discrimination of various population groups that may arise from the new regulations. This primarily concerns people with disabilities, whose medical examination will become a barrier, as well as migrants returning home and those repaying loans. The deputy emphasized the ban on employing individuals with criminal records, including those convicted under political articles or for negligent crimes. He noted that such stigmatization contradicts the principles of humanizing the judicial system, probation, and mediation, turning individual mistakes into a "lifelong stigma" and depriving people of their last chance for legal earnings.
The situation is exacerbated by statistics: currently, only about 7,000 drivers have official permits, while the total number of taxi drivers in the country ranges from 60,000 to 70,000. This means that in the coming weeks, the number of legal carriers could decrease by almost ten times. The deputy called for urgent changes to the licensing conditions to avoid a transportation collapse in cities and mass unemployment.
