Sadyr Japarov Signs New Law on Referendums in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed a new constitutional law titled "On Referendum of the Kyrgyz Republic." This legislative act, adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) on May 28, 2026, aims to harmonize the current referendum laws with the country's constitution, which was approved by a referendum on April 11, 2021, and signed into law by the president on May 5, 2021.

The new law introduces several key provisions. It clarifies the competencies of state bodies involved in the referendum process, aiming to streamline operations. Furthermore, it seeks to improve the legal procedures for initiating, appointing, conducting, and summarizing the results of referendums. A significant focus is placed on strengthening the legal guarantees for citizen participation and ensuring the principle of popular sovereignty.

In addition to procedural improvements, the constitutional law addresses the alignment of voting organization norms. It brings the provisions related to organizing voting in the "On Referendum of the Kyrgyz Republic" constitutional law in line with the "On Elections of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and Deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh" constitutional law. This includes aspects such as voter identification, the voting process itself, remote voting, and ballot procedures, ensuring greater consistency across electoral legislation.

The constitutional law will come into effect ten days after its official publication, marking a new phase in the regulation of referendums in Kyrgyzstan. The move signifies an effort to modernize and clarify the legal framework surrounding direct democratic participation.