Novopavlovka, a village recently annexed to Bishkek, may lose part of its cemetery due to plans to extend Profsoyuznaya Street. This project aims to improve transportation access to the new Osh market, the Western bus station, and Manas Airport.
In 2017, the city hall extended Profsoyuznaya Street, connecting it with Fuchik and Kustanai Streets. However, a few years later, the need arose to widen this street and continue it towards the MTU "Novopavlovka." Currently, illegal constructions on the new route are being demolished, but the cemetery, where the relatives of local residents, who have only recently become city dwellers, are buried, stands in the way of the expansion.
The dilemma: the graves of ancestors or private property?
The cemetery is located between Korsakov Street and a ravine. Here lie veterans of the Great Patriotic War and other significant figures who contributed to the development of the village. The last burials took place in 2024, after which the cemetery was closed.
Previously, lands surrounding the cemetery were built up with private houses after the 2005 revolution. They were only recently legalized, and now many owners have rights to these plots.
According to the Bishkek city hall, the road can be built either through the cemetery or around it. However, local residents oppose the use of the burial site, and the owners of the new buildings do not want to relinquish their rights.
The mayor calls for care for the living, but residents are concerned about the memory of the dead
Conflicts and misunderstandings continue. Mayor Aibek Junushaliev's visit did not resolve the situation, although he promised to consider the opinions of all parties.
“No one is to blame — neither you nor your parents. But the city must develop. Let’s think about the living,”
Aibek Junushaliev
He also suggested creating a more suitable platform for discussion, where everyone could express their opinion.
The mayor emphasized that the new route would become an important international transport corridor, which would help relieve the Vasilyevsky tract and provide convenient access to the airport. He also noted that the project had been postponed multiple times in the past.
The population of Novopavlovka fears that the road will go through the cemetery, not knowing what to do with the remains of their loved ones.
“The cemetery director allowed burials until 2024. We have all the necessary documents. What should we do now with those who were buried where the road is planned? Reburial at our own expense?” — residents wonder.
Residents are on guard at the cemetery gates around the clock to protect it from the anticipated demolition.
“You cannot build a road on bones; it will lead to nothing good,” — some locals assert.
Shocking proposals: to collect remains in bags
According to local residents, a road of this category requires a width of at least 30 meters, which means that many graves will be at risk of reburial.
“I can't even imagine how this will happen. I buried my mother a few years ago, and now I will have to relive her funeral,” — says one woman.
According to her, someone at the meeting proposed a solution that sounds even outrageous — to hire foreign workers to dig up the remains, put them in bags, and hand them over to relatives.
The cemetery has been functioning for over 60 years, and people of various nationalities and faiths are buried here.
“The Muslim section is separated from the Orthodox section by a ravine. But when we come here, we always remember both, as many acquaintances are buried here,” — local residents share.
Sharia and 25 years of rest: what the laws say
Local residents hope that the issue will be resolved with consideration of all interests. President Sadyr Japarov spoke about Sharia, which prescribes that a closed cemetery can only be used 25 years after the last burial.
Today, Novopavlovka faces a choice that goes beyond urban planning solutions. It is not only a question of transport infrastructure and the development of Bishkek but also the price that society is willing to pay for progress. For residents, the cemetery is not just land but a symbol of memory and respect for those who lived before them.
It is expected that the authorities will present clear and transparent solutions that take into account laws, traditions, and human feelings.
Changing the route of the road so as not to affect the cemetery would be a compromise that could ease tensions and maintain peace in the community.
The issue remains open, and its resolution will determine not only the fate of the road but also the trust of local residents in the authorities.
