Bazarbaev responded that the entire procedure was carried out in accordance with the law. "First, it was important to consider the opinion of local residents. Meetings were held in seven MTUs of the city, where people expressed their support for this initiative. After that, the Manas City Council submitted the issue for the mayor's consideration, and then it was forwarded to the interdepartmental commission, which discussed it and sent it to the government. The government, in turn, submitted it to the Jogorku Kenesh," he explained.
He added that all necessary legal procedures were followed. "As for the referendum, no law requires it. This is merely the opinion of individual citizens," the official noted.
According to Bazarbaev, the spirit of Manas contributes to the unification of people and brings optimism. "I attended a meeting of the city’s active members in Manas and noticed how inspired and positively inclined people are. The renaming of Jalal-Abad to Manas will undoubtedly bring benefits," he emphasized.
Regarding the question of granting Manas the status of republican significance, Bazarbaev noted that some misinterpret the law. "It states that a population of at least 250,000 people is required for this. However, in exceptional cases, cities with a smaller population can be classified in this category if they are cultural, economic, and administrative centers with growth potential. This provision of the law allows for the proposals of the city's residents to be considered at both the government and Jogorku Kenesh levels," he added.
Photo on the main page: "Birinchi Radio."
