Kyrgyz parliament supports the idea of introducing a new flag
A special-purpose committee of Zhogorku Kenesh, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan, has approved a draft law on changes to the national flag of Kyrgyzstan, according to Azattyq. The document was initiated by deputies who don’t like the current version of the flag with a picture of the sun that resembles a sunflower.
What happened? The parliament’s committee on constitutional legislation, state structure, litigation issues and procedures has approved a draft law on introducing changes to the national flag. Initiators of the document are Speaker of Zhogorku Kenesh Nurlanbek Shakiev and MP Ulan Primov.
What is the reason for changing the flag? MPs believe that there is an ambiguity in the perception of the flag as the sun on the flag looks like a sunflower. That is why the picture of the sun must be changed to avoid any unwanted associations.
According to Primov, the author of the draft law, the changes won’t require any additional spending because the government can replace old documents and different things with pictures of the flag on them gradually. He also noted that Kyrgyzstan won’t be the only state that would have changed the flag. For instance, the U.S. government changed its national symbol on 26 occasions, Spain did so eight times and Russia once, the 24.kg website reported.
MP Dastanbek Jumabekov suggested conducting the national referendum because the flag issue will affect the interests of every citizen of Kyrgyzstan. He believes that arguments in favor of changing the flag aren’t serious.
«This draft law can cause huge changes. Of course, MPs can approve it but we have to know what the people of our country think about the initiative. If you asked me, I would say that I am totally okay with the old flag. We’ve been living with it for 30 years and I am used to it,» he emphasized.
In turn, Primov pointed out that 30 years ago the national flag was approved without any referendum.
What will the new flag look like? As a result, the special-purpose committee unanimously supported the flag changes, while MP Jumabekov restrained from voting, Kaktus.kg reported.
The new flag of Kyrgyzstan may look like this:
When did Kyrgyzstan approve its current flag? The national flag of Kyrgyzstan was adopted on March 3, 1992, by Zhogorku Kenesh. In the center of the flag, tunduk, a central part of a Kyrgyz yurt, is depicted symbolizing the unity of all people living in the country, while 40 of the sun’s rays symbolize 40 Kyrgyz tribes that have united in one nation.
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov has supported the idea of the flag changing because many people confuse the sun on the flag with a sunflower, which is why the country «can’t get up from its knees.» Kamchybek Tashiev, chair of the State Committee for National Security has also supported the idea.
Earlier this month the Kyrgyzstani parliament also approved a draft law on fines for those who are eligible for voting but never take part in such important procedures.
