The outstanding publicist and social figure passed away at the age of 89
On March 14, 2026, the People's Writer of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kenesh Jusupov, passed away at the age of 89, as reported by the president's website.
Kenesh Jusupov was awarded the Order of "Manas" II degree, and also became a laureate of the Toktogul State Prize and a Hero of Labor of the Kyrgyz Republic.
He was born on April 14, 1937, in the village of Echkibash, located in the Tian Shan region of Naryn Province. After graduating from high school in the village of Ottyk in 1954, he completed his studies at the Faculty of Kyrgyz Language and Literature at the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn in 1961.
Jusupov began his career in 1961–1963 at the Tian Shan regional newspaper published in Naryn. Later, he worked at the Main Administration for the Protection of State Secrets in the Press under the Council of Ministers of the Kyrgyz SSR (Glavlit). At various times, he was an editor at the "Kyrgyzstan" publishing house, as well as a script editor at the Kyrgyzfilm studio and a literary consultant for the Writers' Union of Kyrgyzstan in the Naryn region.
Since 1986, he served as the secretary of the board of the Writers' Union, and from 1987 to 2020, he headed the literary magazine "Ala-Too" as the chief editor.
The beginning of his literary activity dates back to 1958 when his story "Tush" was published in the newspaper "Leninchil Zhas." The writer's first book, "Zhasoo Kumary," was published in 1965, and the following year he was accepted as a member of the Writers' Union of the USSR.
Since then, his significant works have been published, such as "Karaldym Toolor," "Jurogum Menin Toolordo," "Yry Sabyndagy Omur," "Kulgun Kurak," and "Tooluktar Bayany," allowing him to gain recognition among readers and occupy an important place in Kyrgyz literature.
In 1975, his book "Yry Sabyndagy Omur," dedicated to the life and love of the poet Alykul Osmonov, was awarded the Lenin Komsomol Prize of Kyrgyzstan. That same year, his collection of stories and novellas in Russian titled "Lesoruby" ("Karaigychylar") was published in Moscow.
Kenesh Jusupov, together with Ashym Jakypbekov, developed a prose version of the national epic "Manas." Additionally, he became the initiator and one of the authors of the foundational forty-volume publication "Kyrgyzdar," dedicated to the history, culture, ethnography, and literature of the Kyrgyz people.
His works have been translated into many languages, including Turkish, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Czech, Russian, Kazakh, Tatar, Arabic, and French.
For his achievements in the development of national culture, Jusupov received numerous state awards and titles, including the medal "For Labor Valor," a Certificate of Honor from the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz SSR, the title "Honored Figure of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic," the Toktogul State Prize, the Order of "Manas" II degree, as well as the high titles of "People's Writer of the Kyrgyz Republic" and "Hero of Labor of the Kyrgyz Republic."
He was also awarded the gold medal of TURKSOY and became a laureate of several international awards.
Kenesh Jusupov was an honorary professor at the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn, the Kyrgyz State University named after Ishebnaly Arabayev, and other higher educational institutions.
"The bright image of Kenesh Jusupov will forever remain in the memory of the Kyrgyz people. Deep condolences are expressed to the writer's family and loved ones," the message states.
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