[Today's Prayer] Kyrgyz Parliament Passes Bill to Prioritize Kyrgyz over Russian

The Kyrgyz parliament in Central Asia has passed a bill to prioritize Kyrgyz over Russian in broadcasting and other media.

According to AFP and other sources on the 26th, the unicameral Kyrgyz parliament passed a bill with this content the day before.

According to the bill, more than 60% of TV and radio broadcast content must be produced in Kyrgyz, and place names must also be written in Kyrgyz.

In addition, Kyrgyz text on billboards must be displayed larger than Russian text.

In addition, judges, civil servants, prosecutors, and elected officials must be fluent in Kyrgyz.

(Omitted)

Kyrgyzstan, like the other four Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, is a multi-ethnic country.

The Kyrgyz parliament passed the bill this time to strengthen national identity, AFP reported.

"If we do not pay attention to the Kyrgyz language, time will pass and (Kyrgyzstan) will disappear as a nation," Nurlanbek Ulu, the speaker of the parliament, told AFP.

The five Central Asian states are known to have been working to strengthen their national identity since Russia invaded Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, in February 2022.

This is because Russia cited the protection of Russians and Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine as one of its justifications when it invaded Ukraine.

(Omitted)

In Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz make up the largest group at 73% of the total population of 7 million, followed by Uzbeks (about 15%) and Russians (about 5%).

In Kyrgyzstan, both Kyrgyz and Russian are national languages.

However, about 80% of the Kyrgyz population speaks Russian.

AFP pointed out that speaking Russian in Central Asia means being associated with high social status.

(continued)

Source: Yonhap News

The Lord found him in a deserted land, in a howling wilderness; he encircled him and protected him; he kept him as the apple of his eye (Deut 32:10)

We hear that Kyrgyzstan passed a bill to prioritize Kyrgyz over Russian in broadcasts and other media in order to protect its national identity.

Based on the fact that Russia claimed to protect Russians and Russian speakers living in Ukraine when it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, may the Lord help and protect these decisions to protect Kyrgyzstan be carried out successfully.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues for the third year, we see that it is also affecting the Central Asian countries that were part of the former Soviet Union.

May the Lord of peace protect Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries and allow them to continue to hear and preach the gospel in their local languages.

When the love of God, who protects the weary souls in the wilderness of the world like the apple of an eye, and the grace of the cross of Jesus Christ are proclaimed in the Kyrgyz language, may the Kyrgyz souls have a vision and be empowered by the Holy Spirit who works beyond language to serve Central Asia and the nations.

Please use the Kyrgyz church to teach the Kyrgyz language along with the Word to the Kyrgyz souls who still cannot read and write, and may the Kyrgyz YG who had hoped for Russia share the hope of the kingdom of God.

May the Kyrgyz YG rise up and realize the power of God who calls the foolish and puts the wise to shame, and may they make disciples of the nations.

In this way, may the Kyrgyz people become the key to the revival of Central Asia, opening the closed doors of the nations and preparing the way for the return of Jesus!