Tengrinews.kz – Some politicians in Kyrgyzstan have proposed relocating the country’s capital from Bishkek to the city of Manas, according to Kamchybek Tashiev, head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, citing AKIpress.
“If we are worthy of it, why not — God willing, it will happen. But for that, the city and the people must be prepared — psychologically as well. It’s not easy to be a capital. Significant funding is allocated to a capital city, and it must be transformed. As you can see, construction is underway everywhere. We need to make it a modern city,” Tashiev said on October 11 during a meeting with school principals in Manas.
According to him, Manas will become the third city of national significance in 2026.
Tashiev also noted that renaming the city was a strategically correct decision.
The city of Jalal-Abad was officially renamed to Manas on September 17, following a law signed by President Sadyr Japarov.
Manas is the third-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, serving as the administrative center of Jalal-Abad Region, with a population of 184,400 people. It is located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country.