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🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan /Elections & Politics

Kyrgyzstan president explains land lease changes, cites unused plots

From 24.kg · () Russian

Translated from Russian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Жапаров explained proposed changes to land lease rules, stating long-term use requires investors to fulfill obligations.
  • He noted that some 49-year leases were unused and their rights resold by Kyrgyz citizens, prompting a revision of the process.
  • The new system will grant land for 10 years initially, extendable if investors build factories, logistics centers, or hotels, aiming to create jobs and boost the economy.

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Жапаров has clarified the rationale behind proposed changes to land lease regulations, emphasizing that long-term land use will be granted to investors only upon fulfillment of their commitments. Жапаров stated that current laws permit land leases up to 50 years, with many previously issued for 49 years.

If you take it for 49 years, build. If you can't build, return it to the state. Don't sell it to someone else and make money out of thin air.

— Sadyr ЖапаровPresident Жапаров explaining the need for investors to develop land leased for long terms.

He revealed that a review found some 49-year leaseholders had not developed the land for years, instead reselling their usage rights, often through informal "blue books." Жапаров stressed that these transactions were primarily by Kyrgyz citizens, not foreigners, and that the state should not tolerate such speculation. "If you take it for 49 years, build. If you can't build, return it to the state. Don't sell it to someone else and make money out of thin air," he asserted.

The review also uncovered discrepancies in official land records, with some айыл окмоту (local self-government bodies) underreporting their actual land holdings. Жапаров mentioned that an ongoing land inventory, using satellite data, is expected to conclude by mid-2027 and has already highlighted issues with land being repeatedly transferred without development.

The state must not wait. The people demand: improve our lives, create jobs so we don't leave.

— Sadyr ЖапаровPresident Жапаров on the economic and social imperatives driving the land lease reform.

Under the proposed changes, investors promising projects like factories or hotels will initially receive land for 10 years. Successful construction and fulfillment of obligations will allow for extensions, first to 25 years, then to 49. "The state must not wait. The people demand: improve our lives, create jobs so we don't leave," Жапаров urged, highlighting the economic benefits of job creation, tax revenue, and increased economic activity from such projects. He added that after 49 years, the developed property remains with the state.

After 49 years, the investor will leave it and go, he cannot take the built property with him.

— Sadyr ЖапаровPresident Жапаров on the long-term benefit to the state from investor-developed properties.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by 24.kg in Russian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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