Kyrgyz authorities de-Russifying Bishkek

Director of the Kyrgyz State Agency for Civil Service and Local Government Affairs Elchibek Dzhantaev has said that the authorities of Bishkek have begun to de-Russify the city by creating new names for four districts.

“They [local authorities] have already outlined their position, there will be no counteraction. Proposals are being prepared to rename all four districts. It is unclear whether the names will be Kyrgyz or not. This issue will be discussed,” he said, Sputnik Kyrgyzstan reports.

Dzhantaev also noted that the work with the leadership of Bishkek is underway.

The official said that the authorities are ready to develop a law.

Moreover, he reminded that this issue was raised by Speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament Nurlan Shakiev.

The politician called for the de-Russification of the names of the districts of Bishkek on November 25.

The Kyrgyz leadership has been unable to fully implement plans for the development of the state language, and this measure may be the first step in this process, Shakiev said.

The districts of the city have the following names: Pervomaisky, Oktyabrsky, Leninsky and Sverdlovsky.