At a recent public hearing dedicated to the new master plan for the capital, experts from the Institute of Advanced Urban Planning (St. Petersburg) presented alarming data on the state of the historical and cultural heritage of Bishkek. According to information from government sources, there are 381 registered heritage sites of national and local significance in the city, but a significant number of them have been effectively lost.
Among the sites of national significance, important monuments of history, art, and architecture have been lost. Specialists report that out of 129 significant sites, 14 no longer exist.
The situation is similar for monuments of local significance: out of 252 sites, 38 have been recognized as lost. Thus, at least 52 monuments have disappeared from Bishkek, including significant objects of history, art, and architecture.
The developers of the master plan emphasized that the loss of cultural heritage is exacerbated by chaotic construction, the absence of protective zones, and insufficient monitoring of the condition of the sites.
Architects noted that the new master plan should include effective mechanisms for preserving the historical appearance of the city. Otherwise, Bishkek risks continuing to lose unique objects that shape its cultural identity.
