Fewer Awards — Greater Value? Why It Is Proposed to Reduce the Number of State Awards

Ирина Орлонская • 16.01.2026, 15:58 • Local news / Exclusive

Fewer awards — higher value? Why it is proposed to reduce the number of state awards

Currently, a draft law concerning "State Awards, Honorary Titles, and Prizes of the Kyrgyz Republic" is being discussed in the Jogorku Kenesh.

The document was initiated by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and was recently reviewed at a meeting of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation, where it received approval with consideration of the deputies' proposals.

The committee also recommended bringing the draft law to the plenary session of the Jogorku Kenesh.

According to the proposed document, it is planned to leave only 20 types of state awards instead of the currently existing 46.

Deputy Minister of Justice Kuban Kazakov reported that there are currently 46 different awards, prizes, and honorary titles in Kyrgyzstan.

Over the past 15 years, excluding the "Batyr Ene" order and the "Ene Danky" medal, 1,034 awards, 2,837 honorary certificates, and 2,215 honorary titles have been awarded.

Kazakov noted that such a practice could lead to the devaluation of awards and titles.

"We propose to keep only 20 awards out of 46 to increase their value," he added.

The draft law divides state awards into several categories:

Highest state award:

"Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic" — the highest degree of distinction.

Special category awards:

"Hero of the Fatherland";
"Hero of Labor".

First category awards:

Order of "Manas" I degree;
Order of "Manas" II degree;
Order of "Manas" III degree;
Order of "Kurmanjan Datka";
Order of "Erdik";
Order of "Dank";
Order of "Dostuk";
Order of "Batyr Ene".

Second category awards:

Medal of "Dank";
Medal of "Ene Danky".

Honorary titles of the Kyrgyz Republic:

"People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic";
"People's Writer of the Kyrgyz Republic";
"People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic";
"Creative Person of the Kyrgyz Republic";
"Pride of the Kyrgyz Republic".

State prizes:

State Prize in the field of science and technology;
State Prize named after Toktogul in the field of literature and art.

The draft law also proposes to exclude from the awards the Order of "Danaker", three degrees of the Order of "Erdik", the honorary certificate, and the title of "People's Poet of the Kyrgyz Republic", as well as the titles of the "Honored" category, transferring their awarding to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Deputy Marlen Mamataliyev expressed concerns about the possible decline in the status of the title "Honored".

"The title 'Honored' should remain among state awards. Previously, it was awarded only to the most deserving individuals who underwent a strict selection process. Now, if it is awarded easily, its significance will disappear," the deputy noted.

The proposal to exclude the title "People's Poet" has also faced criticism. Deputy Janarbek Akayev insists on the necessity of preserving it along with other titles.

He emphasized that the title "People's Akyn" should not be abolished, as it has its unique value and history.

"Cultural workers who have dedicated years of their lives to art also deserve recognition and encouragement. Preserving the title 'People's Poet' would be a correct step," he added.

Mendi Mamazairova, a people's poet and playwright of Kyrgyzstan, shared her thoughts on the significance of awards, noting that they serve as a stimulus for achieving new heights.

"Each award inspires further achievements. People who receive honorary certificates strive to show better results in the future. Therefore, it is important to consider the efforts of individuals and their social status," she noted.

The head of the information policy service of the presidential administration, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, stated that the draft law may be refined, and deputies can make changes during the discussion.

State Secretary Arslan Koychiev emphasized the importance of consistency in awarding and the need to reform the existing system.

He noted that the current system requires changes to improve its quality and fairness.

"There is criticism of the award system, and we need to improve the selection criteria. If we do not make changes, dissatisfaction will grow," Koychiev added.

The Secretary of State also agreed on the necessity to preserve high titles such as "People's Writer" and "People's Poet," emphasizing their importance for preserving cultural heritage.

The draft law "On State Awards, Honorary Titles, and State Prizes of the Kyrgyz Republic" was presented to the Jogorku Kenesh on December 17, 2025.

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