The Jogorku Kenesh is also considering a bill to expand state support for families. Deputies propose assistance for all children up to 12 years old on a universal basis, and for needy families, extend payments up to 16 years. Additionally, the bill includes monthly supplements of 5,000 soms for heroic mothers, of which there are more than 31,000 in the country. It is also proposed to abandon "property surveys" when determining neediness, replacing them with an analysis of the family's total income.
The deadline for issuing licenses to taxi drivers has been extended to July 1. 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%. The regulator noted that by the end of 2025, the country's real GDP increased by 11.1%. The main factors for growth were the construction sector and services, supported by budget investments and remittances.
Inflation as of January 16, 2026, was 9.4% year-on-year. Although the price increase for food is slowing down, the cost of non-food goods and services remains high due to external factors and changes in tariff policy. The National Bank maintains tight monetary conditions to bring inflation back to the target level of 5-7% in the medium term.
On Thursday, the discussion in parliament began with an unexpected topic — cars. A large number of deputies were observed in the parking lot in front of the Jogorku Kenesh, arriving in new official cars issued the day before. All cars were black and new, however, most parliamentarians refused to comment on the fleet update.
It is worth noting that deputies have been issued official cars without drivers, meaning that parliamentarians must hire drivers themselves. All expenses for the maintenance of the cars and the setup of the onboard computer are borne by the deputies themselves. Documents on material responsibility for the provided transport have been signed, and the selected models belong to the mid-luxury class, costing from $30,000 to $50,000.
In 2026, over a billion soms will be allocated for the transition to 12-year education. The same amount was allocated last year, with the majority of funds going to new textbooks — 815 million soms.
The Jogorku Kenesh Committee on Constitutional Legislation reviewed three projects for a new anthem, but all were rejected. Experts noted that the proposed musical and lyrical compositions did not meet the high standards for a state symbol. Work on the ideal option will continue, and the new anthem must be presented by April 2026. It is also emphasized that the current anthem is of high quality in both text and music. The idea of changing the anthem was proposed in 2024 by the speaker of parliament and supported by the president.
More interesting and important events in Kyrgyzstan are covered by journalists 24.kg in our review.
New National Anthem: Why the Bold Initiative 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 started in early 2025, turned out to be challenging. The first stage of selection was deemed unsuccessful — none of the submitted texts were suitable. This forced the organizers to announce a new competition with extended deadlines until autumn. As a result, five texts were selected, and musical options were chosen in another competition. We tried to understand the reasons for the failure of the attempt to change one of the main state symbols of the country and what lies behind this initiative.
Reform of Driving Schools in Kyrgyzstan: System Overhaul or Crisis for Private Operators?
Since the beginning of 2026, a large-scale reform of the driver training system has started in Kyrgyzstan, which effectively places the training in driving schools under strict state control. These changes affect one of the most populous sectors of educational services. However, instead of a smooth transition, the market has faced uncertainty, suspension of operations, and the actual closure of dozens of driving schools.
Working Abroad: How to Earn 300,000 Soms and Not Become a Victim of Fraud
In recent years, more and more citizens of Kyrgyzstan are going abroad for legal work. About what directions are currently available, how the selection process works, what difficulties labor migrants face, and how not to become a victim of fraud, 24.kg spoke 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, but without the participation of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, has divided expert opinions. Some believe that such selective inclusion raises concerns, while others are confident that it will not affect the integrity of Central Asia as a geopolitical player. They see no reason to believe that the lack of attention from the United States will cause Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to shift into China's economic and infrastructural orbit. Below, we present the opinions of political analysts.
Hijama for Infants: How Belief in "Folk Healing" Led to a Tragedy in Uzgen
The death of a one-and-a-half-month-old baby in Uzgen after undergoing hijama (bloodletting) caused a wide public outcry. Many have spoken on this topic: "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 Pressuring: Why Kyrgyz Citizens Don't Feel the Economic Upturn
The study "Listening to the Kyrgyz Republic," conducted by the World Bank since 2021 based on regular telephone surveys of households, captures the paradox of the Kyrgyz economy: macro indicators are confidently rising, while the subjective sense of well-being among the population is not increasing as quickly and evenly. The document covers the period from 2022 to the third quarter of 2025 and allows for a comparison of overall economic indicators with the real perception of people's 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. Artist Ilgiz Edilson, whose works are already represented in collections in Switzerland, the UK, Iceland, and Italy, is showcasing 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 February 2–8: Thrillers about Anomalies and Crime Dramas
The first week of February (from the 2nd to the 8th) will be marked by several premieres: viewers can expect exciting plots about survival in anomalous conditions, family dramas about seeking forgiveness, and tense action films about the fight against extremism. The focus will be on the return of famous characters in new seasons and bold comedies about Parisian adventures.
