Controversy erupts in Kyrgyzstan over renaming of Russian-named villages
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov made a strong statement during a meeting with residents of the Alay district. According to Kyrgyz media reports, the head of state plans to eliminate all Russian-language village names by 2027.
«We suggest renaming villages that were named in Russian. We will complete this work across entire republic in the next year,» he said.
Japarov explained that people’s names would not be used to replace Russian-language names in order to avoid internal disputes and that the authorities would instead focus on other options.
The situation took an unexpected turn when the publication was deleted from the major news outlet 24.kg. Press releases on the president’s official website about the meeting with residents of the Alay district make no mention of renaming Russian-language village names.
After the news spread, President’s Press Secretary Askat Alagozov rushed to deny plans to replace Russian-language village names in a comment to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. According to him, the issue «is not on the agenda,» and the president was only referring to a moratorium on naming villages after historical figures. The presidential administration says that the media misinterpreted the president’s words.
Moscow nervously responded to Japarov’s plans even given the reciprocals. First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin linked such initiatives to Bishkek’s desire to «assert itself» and distance itself from the shared past in an interview.
«Such steps may be seen as a signal of a break with previous ties,» he said.
MP Dmitry Kuznetsov added that the very emergence of such discussions is a result of weak Russian diplomatic work in the region.
«The fact that Russian-named villages are being renamed there is the responsibility of our officials, our responsibility, mine included,» he said.
Notably, since Japarov came to power in January 2021, more than 15 settlements have already been officially renamed.
