Bishkek resident gets 60 som back after cash payment refusal on bus

A resident of Bishkek has successfully had 60 Kyrgyz som refunded to him after a public transport dispute involving cash payments. Vitaly Oleynichenko was reportedly refused service on bus route No. 55 on July 1, 2026, when he attempted to pay his fare with cash. The driver allegedly demanded he exit the bus, forcing Oleynichenko to purchase a transport card for 60 som.

Oleynichenko subsequently lodged a complaint with President Sadyr Japarov, arguing that the driver's refusal to accept national currency violated constitutional and legal provisions. He also claimed that after using the newly acquired card, an additional 60 som was deducted for a single 17 som fare. His appeal was forwarded to the Anti-Monopoly Service under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

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You were refunded 60 som.

Following an investigation, the Anti-Monopoly Service issued directive No. 110 on July 31 to the Bishkek City Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development. The directive mandated the return of the 60 som to Oleynichenko. The service stated it would continue to monitor the department's compliance with the directive until all its requirements are met, with a deadline of September 1, 2026.

Oleynichenko hailed the decision as a victory, asserting that he had defended citizens' right to pay for public transport with cash. However, the Anti-Monopoly Service's official response does not explicitly declare the city's cashless payment system illegal. The document confirms the issuance of a directive to the transport department and the refund to the complainant, indicating a focused resolution rather than a systemic overhaul of the payment policy.

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Citizens' right to pay for travel with cash has been defended.