In Kyrgyzstan, a significant crisis in passenger transportation is expected starting February 1, 2026. Deputy Dastan Bekeshev criticized the introduction of mandatory licensing for taxi drivers, claiming that it will lead to a shortage of vehicles and may cause a social explosion. He predicts that the cost of rides, which currently ranges from 200 to 300 soms, will rise to 700–800 soms, which will become a serious problem for parents who need to transport their children to schools, given the lack of educational institutions near their homes.
Additionally, Bekeshev noted that the new rules could discriminate against various groups of the population. First and foremost, this will affect people with disabilities, for whom passing a medical commission may become an insurmountable obstacle. It will also impact migrants who have returned to the country, as well as those who are repaying loans. The deputy particularly emphasized the employment ban for individuals with criminal records, including those convicted under political articles or for negligent crimes. He stressed that such stigmatization contradicts the principles of humanizing the judicial system and turns past mistakes into a "lifelong stigma," depriving people of their last chance to earn a living.
According to statistics, only about 7,000 drivers have received licenses so far, while the total number of taxi drivers in the country ranges from 60,000 to 70,000. This means that in the coming weeks, the number of legal carriers could decrease by almost ten times. The deputy emphasizes the urgent need for changes in licensing conditions to avoid a transportation crisis in cities and prevent mass unemployment.
