New flag hoisted on Ala-Too square without participation of president

11:02, 08 января 2024, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Baktygul OSMONALIEVA

A ceremony of raising the renewed national flag of the Kyrgyz Republic took place on the central Ala-Too square in Bishkek. It took place without the participation of the country’s president. The ceremony was attended by the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov. Representatives of independent media were not invited.

Secretary of State of the Kyrgyz Republic Suyunbek Kasmambetov explained the absence of Sadyr Japarov at the event. According to him, «there are no fundamental changes in the renewed flag, the main idea was preserved, only minor technical changes were made, and therefore it was decided to hold the event without the participation of the head of state.»

A new flag was hoisted on Ala-Too square on the morning of January 1. However, social media users and readers of 24.kg news agency calculated that the new flag had not 40 rays, but 39. Disputes about the number of rays continued for several days. The Bishkek City Hall and the head of the Information Policy Service, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, stated that the flag has 40 rays. Internet users write that the flag was removed and possibly replaced with a corrected version.

The president signed the law on the new flag of Kyrgyzstan. It was adopted by the Parliament on December 20, 2023. The initiators were the Speaker of Parliament Nurlanbek Shakiev and deputy Ulan Primov. The shape of the rays on the flag was changed from wavy to straight one.

The head of state said at the second People’s Kurultai that changing the flag would not entail expenses from the republican budget.

40 rays symbolized unification of 40 ancient tribes into a single Kyrgyzstan.