Additionally, the Jogorku Kenesh is considering a draft law aimed at expanding state support for families. Deputies propose to introduce allowances for all children up to 12 years old on a universal basis and to extend assistance for those in need until the children reach the age of 16. The draft law also provides for a monthly additional allowance of 5,000 soms for heroic mothers, of whom there are more than 31,000 in the country. The document proposes to abolish "property surveys" when assessing need, where the key factor will be only the total family income, and the presence of household appliances or vehicles will not be taken into account.
In Kyrgyzstan, the licensing period for taxis has been extended until July 1, 2026. Currently, more than 8,000 individual taxi drivers and over 300 legal entities have already received licenses.
The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has kept the discount rate at 11 percent. According to the regulator, the country's economy is demonstrating high growth rates: by the end of 2025, real GDP increased by 11.1 percent. The main growth factors are the construction sector and the service industry, while investment activity is supported by increased budget financing and an influx of remittances.
Inflation in the country as of January 16, 2026, was 9.4 percent year-on-year. Although the rate of price growth for food has slowed, external factors and a revision of tariff policy continue to affect the cost of non-food goods and services. The National Bank maintains strict monetary conditions to bring inflation back to the target range of 5–7 percent in the medium term.
Thursday morning in parliament began not with work on laws, but with discussions about... cars. There was a buzz in the parking lot in front of the Jogorku Kenesh: deputies arrived one after another in new official cars that had been issued to them the day before. All the cars are new, black, and identical. Most parliamentarians refused to comment on the update of the vehicle fleet.
It is known that the official cars were issued to deputies without drivers — they will have to hire them independently. Responsibilities for servicing the cars and programming the onboard computer also fall on them. Documents have been signed regarding material responsibility for the provided transport. Models of the mid-luxury class were chosen for the parliamentarians, with prices ranging from $30,000 to $50,000.
In 2026, more than one billion soms will be allocated for the transition to 12-year education. The same amount was allocated last year. The majority of the funds will go towards new textbooks — 815 million soms.
The Committee of the Jogorku Kenesh on constitutional legislation reviewed three drafts of the new anthem, but all were rejected. Experts and deputies noted that the proposed compositions do not meet the high standards of a state symbol. Commission members will continue to work on finding a suitable option, which must be presented by April 2026. Specialists also emphasized that the current anthem possesses high artistic quality in both text and music. The idea of changing the anthem arose in 2024 at the initiative of the parliamentary speaker and was supported by the president.
Other important events and topics covered by journalists from 24.kg — see our overview.
The new anthem of the country: why the loud initiative has hit a dead end
Photo 24.kg. Kyrgyzstan is trying to change all state symbols, but something went wrong with the anthem
The competition for a new national anthem of Kyrgyzstan, which began in early 2025, turned out to be complicated. The first selection stage failed: none of the submitted texts were accepted by the commission. As a result, a new competition had to be announced, and the deadlines were pushed to the fall. Ultimately, five texts were selected, and musical accompaniment options were chosen based on the results of the second competition. We tried to understand why the change of one of the main state symbols of the country faced difficulties. What are the reasons for this initiative and what ideological message does it carry?
Reform of driving schools in Kyrgyzstan. A system reboot or a crisis for private operators?
Since the beginning of 2026, a large-scale reform of the driver training system has begun in Kyrgyzstan, which effectively places driving school education under strict state control. The changes affect one of the most widespread sectors of educational services. However, instead of a smooth transition, the market has faced uncertainty, a suspension of operations, and the actual closure of dozens of driving schools.
Working abroad: how to earn 300,000 soms and not fall victim to fraud
In recent years, more and more citizens of Kyrgyzstan are going abroad for legal work. About the available directions today, how the selection process works, what difficulties labor migrants face, and how to avoid fraud, 24.kg speaks with Baktybek Kudayberdiev, director of the Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration.
Trump's selective "Council for Peace": what does it mean for Central Asia
The invitation of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to the "Council for Peace," initiated by Donald Trump, which did not include Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, has sparked debate among experts. Some believe that such selectivity may cause concern, while others urge not to panic and are confident that it will not have a significant impact on Central Asia as a geopolitical player. They see no reason for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to shift into the economic and infrastructural orbit of China due to their peripheral position in U.S. interests. Below are the opinions of political analysts.
Hijama for infants: how faith in "folk healing" led to tragedy in Uzgen
The death of a one-and-a-half-month-old boy in the Uzgen district of the Osh region after undergoing hijama (bloodletting) has caused widespread public outcry. "This is not a tradition or treatment, but cruelty. Quack doctors and myths are not worth a child's life," some believe, while others continue to practice this procedure.
GDP is growing, prices are pressing: why Kyrgyz people do not feel the economic upturn
A study titled "Listening to the Kyrgyz Republic," conducted by the World Bank since 2021 based on regular household surveys, captures an important paradox of the Kyrgyz economy: despite steady growth in macro indicators, the subjective perception of the population's well-being is growing more slowly and less evenly. The document covers the period from 2022 to the third quarter of 2025 and allows for comparisons between overall economic indicators and people's feelings in their daily lives.
How a Kyrgyz artist exports "neuroart" to private collections in Europe and the USA
An unusual exhibition is taking place at the Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev, which breaks stereotypes about the local art market. Ilgiz Edilson is a new-generation artist whose works are already in collections in Switzerland, the UK, Iceland, and Italy — he presented the project "Anatomy of Human Emotions." This is not just painting, but a visual exploration at the intersection of neurobiology, marketing, and cultural anthropology.
Series premieres from February 2–8: thrillers about anomalies and crime dramas
The first week of February (from the 2nd to the 8th) kicks off with several new premieres: viewers can expect gripping plots about survival in anomalous conditions, family dramas about seeking forgiveness, and sharp action films about the fight against extremism. The focus is on the return of iconic characters in new seasons and bold comedies about the Paris underground.
