Our People Abroad: A Kyrgyz Woman Shocked by the High Cost of Living in Seoul

Turmush continues to introduce readers to Kyrgyzstani individuals who have found their destiny abroad. This time, our focus is on Gulzira Kursanova. Although Gulzira's roots trace back to the Kadamjai district of the Batken region, she was born and raised in Bishkek. Now 22 years old, she lives in Seoul, South Korea, where she is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Seojeong University.

The police have begun an investigation into the fire at a kindergarten in the Sokuluk district.

In connection with the incident at the kindergarten "Төрт-Көл" [Tort-Kul] in the Sokuluk district, an investigation is underway, as reported by the press service of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Chui region. According to information from the police, early in the morning on December 22, around 07:50, a report of a fire at the kindergarten "Төрт-Көл," located in the village of Tort-Kul, was received by the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Sokuluk

Life in the Regions: How a School Was Built in Batken by the Efforts of Villagers and Students

In Batken, the construction of a school has been completed, in which both women and students actively participated. This project was implemented using the method of ashar. Local residents of the village of Kara-Bulak still highly appreciate the contribution of teacher Karamat Zakirova to the development of the educational institution.

A state pharmacy has opened in the rural district of Shumkar-Uya

In the Talas district, in the village of Sasyk-Bulak, a state pharmacy named "El Aman" has been launched. At the opening of the pharmacy, the akim of the Talas district, Bayyshbek Astanakulov, the head of the local self-government Shumkar-Uya, Bakyt Kydyraliev, the coordinator of the "El Aman" pharmacy for the Talas region, as well as representatives of the rural hospital and local residents were present.

"Our People Abroad": Bai Iraimberdiev arrived in a country where all the clothes turned out to be too big for him

In the new issue of the "Our People Abroad" column, we meet Bai Iraimberdiev, who currently lives in the city of Brück, Germany. He was born in 2003 in the Kara-Kuldzhinsky district of the Osh region and works as a chef in one of the local restaurants.

How a Major General Started Building a New City in Kyrgyzstan

In 2023, the city of Kara-Kul, located in the Jalal-Abad region, celebrated its 60th anniversary. Adyl Darbishev, a "Honored Hydrostroy Builder" and "Honorary Citizen of the City of Karakol," shared his memories of the city's development in an interview with Turmush. He recounted how it once was just a marshy area with reeds, and then transformed into a fully-fledged settlement with developed infrastructure.

In Karakol, the Traffic Police identified minibuses with first aid kits containing medications expired for up to 26 years

On December 22, the press service of the Main Directorate for Road Traffic Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on the implementation of preventive measures as part of the month-long campaign titled "Compliance with Traffic Rules is a Guarantee of Human Life." Inspectors from the Main Directorate for Road Traffic Safety conducted checks at the bus station in the city of Karakol, where they spoke with public transport drivers. They urged them to adhere to traffic rules,

The Chess Championship Took Place in the Issyk-Kul Region

From December 19 to 21, the regional chess championship took place in the Issyk-Kul region. The competition involved 160 students — boys and girls aged 5 to 17 — from all districts of the region. The championship was organized by the Issyk-Kul Regional Chess Federation and the regional sports administration. Based on the results of the tournament, the chess players who showed the best results received invitations to the national championship, which will be held in January.

The State Financial Oversight Agency named high-risk countries and recommended tightening inspections

The agency responsible for regulating the financial market has presented an updated list of countries that pose high risks in the context of combating the financing of terrorism and the legalization of criminal proceeds (CFT/AML). Organizations operating in the non-banking financial market are recommended to adopt stricter measures for client verification, as well as to apply other sanctions provided by law regarding transactions with these jurisdictions.

In Jalal-Abad, the number of fires since the start of the heating season has been announced

Since the beginning of the heating season, 57 cases of fire have been registered in the Jalal-Abad region, as reported by the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. According to data provided by the agency, the material damage from the fires amounted to more than 2 million soms. Most incidents occurred in residential houses and on farms where livestock is kept.

"Children born in 2019-2020 will have to fully undergo the entire school reform, - Deputy Head of the Cabinet"

At the republican pedagogical meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov noted that the school reform represents not only educational changes but also civilizational transformations. In his opinion, this reform directly affects what citizens will become and how society and the state will look in 20-30 years. It shapes not only professional skills but also civic maturity, responsibility, as well as the ability to work in a team and trust one another.

In Osh Region, three citizens fined for violating hunting rules

On December 21, a raid took place in the Osh region aimed at ensuring compliance with hunting regulations. This was reported by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision. Employees of the Department of Specially Protected Natural Areas and Biodiversity, along with representatives of the "Bars-2" group from the public organization "NABU Kyrgyzstan," conducted an inspection in the hunting grounds of the Kara-Suu and Alaï districts. The main task of

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan detained an Interior Ministry employee and his accomplice for extortion.

During a search of the vehicle "J.K.T.", a black plastic bag wrapped in tape was found. After opening the bag, a narcotic substance "hashish" weighing 105 grams was discovered. The detainees are under suspicion under Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, part 3, paragraph 1, and have been placed in the investigative isolation ward of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic. Currently, additional investigative actions are being

The national boxing championship among youth has concluded in Bishkek.

From December 16 to 21, the national championship in boxing for boys and girls born in 2008-2009 was held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, at the Kaba Uulu Kozhomkul Sports Palace. According to information from the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic, teams representing all regions of the country, as well as the cities of Osh and Bishkek, participated in the event, along with the team from the Republican Sports College named after Sh. Sydykov.

In Batken Region, 11 drivers were detained for driving under the influence over the course of a week

From December 15 to 21, 958 traffic violations were registered in the Batken region. Among these violations, the following cases stand out:

Taxes, Cars, Transactions, and Benefits: The Cabinet Introduced Major Amendments to the Laws

The government of the country has submitted a draft law to the Jogorku Kenesh concerning amendments to various legislative norms related to taxes, social insurance, and non-tax revenues. The changes primarily concern the Code on Non-Tax Revenues, where the functions of tax authorities are clarified. They will be responsible for administering fees for licenses to use subsoil resources, waste disposal, contributions for local infrastructure development, as well as fees in the alcohol sector and

In Bishkek, fake police officers detained for blackmailing a businessman and extorting money

Investigative actions led to the initiation of a criminal case for extortion under Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. As a result of operational measures, a citizen R.S.A. was detained while receiving 1,500,000 soms. Marked banknotes were seized from her.

Plans are underway to establish the Kyrgyz-Japanese Digital University

At the business forum "Central Asia - Japan," which took place on December 20 with the participation of state leaders, a memorandum on trilateral cooperation was signed. As reported by the High Technologies Park, this agreement plans the establishment of the Kyrgyz-Japanese Digital University (K-JDU). The aim of this initiative is to deepen cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Japan in the field of information technology and educational programs. The new university is expected to help

Citizen K. Asanov, who survived a fall from the 13th floor of a high-rise building, asks the courts to fairly consider his case.

In the city of Osh, there was an incident where a construction worker managed to survive after falling from the 13th floor of an unfinished building. Kulchoro Asanov spoke about this at a press conference held on December 22 at AKIpress-Osh. According to Asanov, the incident occurred on October 26, 2023, on Apsamat Masaliev Avenue in a building that is under construction. The worker fell from the 13th floor to the minus first floor and, fortunately, survived. He is currently awaiting a court

In Kyzyl-Kyya, suspects in store thefts were detained

Since the beginning of November this year, cases of theft from stores, carried out through illegal entry during nighttime, have been recorded in Kyzyl-Kiya, as reported by the press service of the Internal Affairs Department of the Batken region. According to the agency, in response to these incidents, several statements have been submitted to the internal affairs authorities by citizens.

Uzbekistan proposed to the EAEU countries to develop joint cooperation projects

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced Uzbekistan's intention to create a joint list of projects in the field of industrial cooperation with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). It is important to note that since 2020, Uzbekistan has held the status of an observer in the EAEU, and this April, the republic completed the process of joining the agreement on the establishment of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

In Moscow, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed in a car explosion

In Moscow, as a result of an explosion caused by a device placed under the vehicle, General-Lieutenant of the Russian Army Fanil Sarvarov was killed. This was reported by the official representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Svetlana Petrenko, on Monday, December 22. The investigative authorities have initiated a criminal case regarding the murder of the military officer. According to the investigation, on the morning of December 22, an explosive device detonated on Yasenevaya

Media: Kazakhstanis Found a Link to an Online Casino on Oreo Cookie Packages

An unusual situation occurred with Oreo cookie packaging in Kazakhstan, where a small QR code that was supposed to lead users to the official website unexpectedly redirected them to an online casino page. Details of this incident were reported by Kursiv. Users began to report the problem on social media. On Oreo's official Instagram page, Kazakhstanis expressed their dissatisfaction. Some decided to test the QR code with their phones and found that instead of going to the brand's

"We will ensure his election as the 48th president of the USA." The widow and supporters of Charlie Kirk backed J.D. Vance.

Erika Kirk, speaking at America Fest, which was the first major event after her husband's death, expressed confidence in supporting Vance, stating: “We will make sure my husband’s friend, J.D. Vance, becomes the 48th president of the United States.” The festival took place in Phoenix, Arizona, and gathered over 30,000 participants. The event attracted 31,000 of Kirk's supporters, although, as reported by Axios, the number of attendees was limited for security reasons. People began

Winter Tourism at Issyk-Kul: Enhanced Security Measures

During the winter tourist season, the staff of the tourist-ecological police of the Internal Affairs Department of the Issyk-Kul region, together with local law enforcement agencies, ensure the safety of vacationers and the maintenance of public order. According to information provided by the regional Internal Affairs Department, to effectively carry out their duties, law enforcement officers use modern equipment, including vehicles, snowmobiles, ATVs, drones, and body cameras.

A Woman Asked the Ombudsman of Kyrgyzstan to Help Punish Her Civil Husband for Polygamy

Kegety Gorge in a Snowy Attire - Photo Report

“Kegety now resembles a winter fairy tale,” shares photographer Vlad Ushakov, who captured this picturesque gorge covered in snow. Located about 75 kilometers from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, the road here is especially attractive in winter due to the snow-covered forests and mountains, while the Kegety River sometimes "smokes" from the cold.

Nariman Tyuleyev: Under Atambaev, I Did Not Pay Taxes

Nariman Tyuleev, the former mayor of Bishkek, shared that during the process of legalizing his tax obligations, he transferred about 300 million soms to the country's budget. This information was revealed in an interview he gave to journalist Mairash Bazlakunova on YouTube.

The GNS collected 19.4 billion soms in excise tax.

Of the total amount of excise tax collected in the first 11 months of 2025, 4 billion 826.3 million soms were received from excise goods produced in Kyrgyzstan. In particular, alcoholic products accounted for 3 billion 448.3 million soms, non-alcoholic beverages for 1 billion 297 million soms, petroleum products for 70 million soms, and tobacco products for 8.2 million soms. As for imported excise goods from EAEU countries, the revenue amounted to 14 billion 666.8 million soms. Of this, 9

Alcohol, tobacco, and fuel provided 19.4 billion soms in excise revenue

In the first 11 months of 2025, the State Tax Service of Kyrgyzstan recorded excise tax revenue amounting to 19 billion 493.06 million soms from goods produced in the country and imported from EAEU member states. According to the agency's information, this figure shows an increase compared to the same period in 2024 by 3 billion 1.7 million soms, which is a 17.3% increase.

Farmers Cannot Always Access Urban Markets, - Ministry of Agriculture

- On the air of the radio on December 22, Uran Chekirbaev, head of the food security department of the Ministry of Agriculture, made a statement about the need to improve farmers' access to markets in Bishkek. According to him, the ministry is actively working on involving farmers in trade through fairs, which are becoming an important channel for selling products.

Kyrgyzstani athletes won prizes at the jiu-jitsu tournament in St. Petersburg

From December 19 to 22, the international jiu-jitsu tournament ACBJJ World Open Championship GI & NO-GI 2025 took place in St. Petersburg, where Kyrgyz athletes achieved significant success. According to the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic, the results of the tournament are as follows:

How the main New Year trees look in the cities of Kyrgyzstan in 2025

On December 15, a ceremony was held in Ala-Too Square in Bishkek to light the main New Year tree of the country. This bright structure, which reaches a height of 35 meters including the star, is decorated with about 7,000 ornaments and new lighting effects.

In Kyrgyzstan, 14 new bridges have been built this year

This year, 14 new bridges have been built in Kyrgyzstan. The Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic, Beknazar Bazaraliev, announced this on the air of Birinchi Radio. Among the new structures is a 30-meter bridge leading to the remote village of Zardaly. Several bridges have also been constructed in regions affected by natural disasters, including mudflows.

The Ministry of Agriculture is controlling meat exports to stabilize the domestic market

- As reported on December 22 on Uran Radio by Chekirbaev, head of the food security department of the Ministry of Agriculture, the agency is monitoring meat exports to ensure stability in the domestic market. Chekirbaev noted that due to high prices in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, there is an increased demand for Kyrgyz meat. At the same time, despite partially open borders with Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, a certain amount of meat can still be exported. In this regard, the state is strengthening

In the US commented on the seizure of the tanker with Chinese oil

In the United States, a tanker belonging to China was seized, which was carrying about two million barrels of Venezuelan oil.

A Plant Quarantine Laboratory Will Be Established in Balykchy

Construction of a laboratory has begun in Balykchy, aimed at ensuring phytosanitary safety. The project is being implemented with the support of the Islamic Development Bank. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, $350,000 has been allocated for the creation of the laboratory, including the purchase of equipment, office technology, and furniture.

In Moscow, a car with Russian General Fanil Sarvarov was blown up

On Yasenevaya Street in Moscow, an explosion occurred, resulting in the death of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, who headed the Operational Training Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. This was reported by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

Chui Chamber Orchestra Performed for Passengers at Osh Airport

An unusual concert by the Chui Chamber Orchestra took place at the international airport of Osh, pleasantly surprising passengers waiting for their flights. The music created a unique atmosphere in the waiting area and gifted travelers unexpected emotions. It is worth noting that on December 19, the Chui Chamber Orchestra plans to perform concerts in several cities of Kyrgyzstan:

The Olympic team of Kyrgyzstan U-23 has begun the final stage of preparation for the Asian Cup

On December 20, the Olympic team of Kyrgyzstan U-23 flew to Ajman, United Arab Emirates, to complete their preparation for the 2026 Asian Cup. According to the Kyrgyz Football Union, during the training camps, the team will play two friendly matches in a closed format. These camps will last until January 2, after which the team will head to Jeddah to participate in the continental championship.

The Cabinet approved new capital regulations for professional participants in the securities market

- The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a new Regulation governing the normative indicators of sufficiency of own funds for professional participants in the securities market. The resolution was issued on December 8, 2025, under number 787, with the aim of strengthening financial stability and enhancing the competitiveness of market participants.

Magnetic Storms Possible on Earth for the Next Three Days

From December 22 to 24, Earth is expected to experience a deterioration in geomagnetic conditions caused by the influence of a coronal hole. This warning was issued by the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, according to information provided by TASS. “From Monday to Wednesday, geomagnetic conditions will be disturbed due to a large

Selling meat at a higher price allows farmers to make a profit, - Ministry of Agriculture

In Kyrgyzstan, the issue of rising meat prices remains extremely relevant, especially for the most vulnerable categories of citizens. This was stated by Uran Chekirbaev, head of the food security department of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, in an interview with the radio on December 22. According to him, the estimated price for meat set by the government is 680 soms per kilogram. However, in markets, it can reach 700–750 soms.

The Akimat of the Alamudun District reported on the situation with road access

In the territory of the Alamudun district of the Chui region, work is being carried out to clear the roads of snow, spread anti-ice materials (salt and gravel), as well as to clean and ensure safety near social facilities. This was reported by the district state administration. It is noted that these activities are being conducted in accordance with the instructions of the presidential representative in the Chui region. The work is carried out on a regular basis to ensure the safety of road

Bishkek Energy Workers Awarded Certificates and Letters of Appreciation (Names and Photos)

Today, December 22, the mayor of the capital visited the CHPP and congratulated the workers of the fuel and energy sector on their professional holiday, reports the press service of the mayor's office. At the event, the best employees were recognized and received honorary certificates and letters of appreciation. The highest recognition was awarded to the director of the Municipal Enterprise "Bishkekteploenergo," Ulan Aitieff, who was presented with the badge "Honored Energy

In Kyrgyzstan, 2.1 million tons of petroleum products were marked in 11 months

In the city of Osh, a woman was found who tore up the Quran and filmed it.

In Osh, law enforcement officials identified a woman who tore pages from the Quran, recorded it on video, and posted the footage on social media. According to information provided by the press service of the Osh city police department, on December 21, the identity of R.H., born in 1984, was established. The woman was taken in for necessary investigative procedures.

Law Enforcement Conducted a Large-Scale Operation "Arsenal" at Issyk-Kul

From December 16 to 26, 2025, an operation called "Arsenal" is taking place in the Issyk-Kul region, aimed at preventing offenses related to weapons and combating poaching. According to law enforcement agencies, during the first week of the operation, 54 facilities with permits for the circulation of weapons and about 3,700 hunters were checked. As a result of the inspections, 36 administrative protocols were drawn up, and the total amount of imposed fines amounted to 33,000 soms. A