Roza Torokulovna continued: “I am troubled by how some people have started spreading rumors and tarnishing the memory of my brother Chyngyz again. It has been 17 years since his death, but some do not leave his spirit in peace, as if they were close friends with him or sat at the same table with him. There is a saying among the people: ‘Of the deceased, either well or nothing,’ but unfortunately, this is not the case. You have disturbed him even after death…
“Could it be that the enemies of the Kyrgyz people are doing this intentionally to sow discord among us? Some rumors contradict each other directly. Or do they think that no one will stand up for Chyngyz?” Roza reflects. “No one will tell the truth anymore, as there are almost no contemporaries left…” She noted that she does not take offense at such people, leaving them to their own conscience.
She recalled the support from Manas-ata and how the great Sayakbay Karalaev emphasized the importance of unity. Roza also remembered how Ata-Beyit was opened in 1991, where her father's remains rest, and how she was able to forgive his murderers. “I forgive those who currently tarnish Aitmatov's memory, but we must be cautious. I am turning 89 years old, and in my life, I have experienced much: both good and bad,” she added.
Roza spoke about the hard times when their family lived in poverty after her father's arrest and execution. She expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz people for their support, especially to her father's relatives, and noted that her mother, Nagima Aitmatova, was a heroic woman who raised her children with a deep sense of belonging to the Kyrgyz people.
“Chyngyz, Ilgiz, you are descendants of the Kytai clan. Do not disgrace your father's name,” their mother used to say. “Both my brothers and sister dedicated their lives to the people and the land, and it pains me greatly to see Chyngyz being blamed for all sins,” Roza added.
According to her, Chyngyz glorified the Kyrgyz people to the world, conveyed the epic “Manas” to all corners of the planet, and fought for the Kyrgyz language under the Soviet system. “Unfortunately, now we are dishonoring ourselves by criticizing his memory!”
Roza shared that representatives of the Kazakh people asked her about the scandals surrounding Aitmatov's name. “I cannot turn away from my people. I was ashamed,” she said. She mentioned that rumors about Chyngyz not knowing the Kyrgyz language are untrue and provided facts about his significance in world literature.
“He ranked third in the world for the number of published books after Shakespeare and Tolstoy,” she noted. Roza talked about the reasons why Chyngyz stopped writing in Kyrgyz, recalling threats from Soviet officials and his illness. Support from Alexander Tvardovsky helped him continue writing in Russian.
“My brother never harmed anyone and always strived for good. He was an ambassador of Kyrgyzstan and contributed to the international recognition of our country. How can one consider a traitor someone who prevented war?” Roza wonders.
She urged not to desecrate the memory of the presidents and appealed to the people to maintain unity. “There is no need to either praise or tarnish my brother. Let him rest in peace,” she added. Roza also suggested directing funds planned for Chyngyz's anniversary to help ordinary people.
At the end of her address, she appealed to the Muslim community, emphasizing that Aitmatov respected faith and lived in service. “His books speak of his spirituality. We, his descendants, should be proud of him and not allow his name to be trampled,” she concluded.
Bishkek, January 26, 2026
