A significant event for the climbing community of Kyrgyzstan took place in Bishkek — the ceremonial summation of the season, organized by the Federation of Mountaineering and Sport Climbing. In a cozy hall, veterans, professionals, novice climbers, instructors, and guests gathered, all of whom consider the mountains an integral part of their lives.
The main focus of the evening was on summarizing the sports season: athletes received well-deserved awards, and the achievements of Kyrgyz climbers were recognized and celebrated. Honoring those who contribute to the promotion of Kyrgyz mountaineering on the international stage became an important part of the event.
Among the honored guests was Levan Markovich Alibegashvili, a legendary climber and master of sports of the USSR, whose achievements will forever remain in the history of Kyrgyz mountaineering. He holds the title of "Snow Leopard" and the "Edelweiss" Order of II degree, as well as the "Dank" award. His life has become a symbol of an era when mountaineering combined the spirit of adventure with exploratory ambitions.
In an interview with the correspondent of VB.KG, Levan Markovich shared memories of the beginning of his journey, which encompasses both the intense years associated with the construction of the Pamir Highway and ascents to the peaks of the Pamirs, Tian Shan, and the Caucasus.
He recalled how in 1960 he made his first ascent of Peak Urozhay in the Alai Range, which marked the beginning of many expeditions. Throughout his career, he conquered all the seven-thousanders of the Soviet Union, participated in international mountaineering competitions, and conducted rescue operations in the most challenging conditions.
Despite being 91 years old, Levan Markovich remains full of energy and dedication to the mountains. "Mountaineering has become the meaning of my life, but most of my work was related to roads. You need to put your soul into any endeavor, whether it’s mountains or your profession," he noted.
His engineering career was also quite eventful: he participated in the design of the main highways of Kyrgyzstan, including Bishkek–Osh and the North–South road. Each road, according to him, is a unique story that requires precision and a human approach.
Eduard Kubatov, president of the Federation of Mountaineering and Sport Climbing, presented the results for 2025, highlighting the significant number of successful ascents and challenging routes. Kyrgyz climbers conquered the peaks of Khan-Tengri, Victory Peak, Ismoil Somoni, and Ozodi. Kubatov himself also shared his achievements, noting two extremely difficult ascents:
"This year I made a challenging ascent of Annapurna in April and finally conquered K2 without oxygen in August."
It should be noted that ascending K2 without the use of oxygen is one of the most challenging achievements in mountaineering at the global level.
Kubatov also emphasized the successes of Kyrgyz climbers Asel Baibagesheva and Rysgul Akimjanova, who became the first women from Kyrgyzstan to summit Everest, and recalled the achievements of Kadyir Saidilkov, who successfully completed the Seven Summit Plus program.
Although the event was dedicated to achievements in sports, an important message of the evening was the idea of unity and the spirit of mountain brotherhood. "This evening is for climbers, for the mountains, and for our country," Kubatov emphasized, adding that every success of Kyrgyz climbers is a step towards enhancing the prestige of the country.
During the event, the ecological initiative "Taza Ala-Too" was also presented, aimed at cleaning mountain peaks from garbage. Kubatov noted that the behavior of climbers affects the attitude towards the ecology of high-altitude areas, and the project is of great importance for preserving Kyrgyzstan's natural heritage.
In conclusion, participants were awarded honorary titles, badges, and letters of appreciation.
