The conflict that arose between civil activist Aktilek Orozbekov, known as the "language patrol," and the confectionery chain "Kulikovsky" has escalated to a new level and has been brought to the discussion of the Jogorku Kenesh. Recall that this dispute, which has been ongoing for nine months, began with the activist's demand to provide services in the Kyrgyz language at one of the chain's establishments. The company's response to this demand was to contact law enforcement, which led to Orozbekov's detention and house arrest. Recently, the lawyers of the confectionery house filed a petition to transfer the activist to a detention center.
This situation has sparked a heated reaction and division on social media: some users began calling for a boycott of the company's products, while others defended the local producer. The discussion reached parliament, where Deputy Baktyyar Kalpaev criticized the company's actions.
The deputy asked representatives of the General Prosecutor's Office: "Is it a crime for citizens to demand services in the state language?" He emphasized that the company should show respect for the country and support the promotion of the Kyrgyz language, especially in light of how the republic's leadership actively defends the status of the state language on the international stage.
It should also be noted that the incident occurs against the backdrop of significant reforms aimed at strengthening the position of the Kyrgyz language in the country. In 2023, a new constitutional law "On the State Language" was adopted in Kyrgyzstan, which significantly expands the mandatory areas of its application. According to this law, the Kyrgyz language has become mandatory for use in government bodies, local self-government bodies, as well as in the fields of service, advertising, transport, and media. In addition, a National Program for the Development of the State Language until 2030 was approved, which includes the transition of documentation to Kyrgyz, the digitalization of the language, and the introduction of the "Kyrgyztest" system for civil servants. The calls of the head of the GKNB to investors to use the state language and the president's speeches in Kyrgyz at the UN confirm the authorities' ongoing commitment to ensuring compliance with language legislation by all business entities.
