Legislation

Kyrgyz is the language of the indigenous population and of the majority of the citizens of the Kyrgyz SSR; it is one of the oldest of the Turkic languages and on its basis outstanding cultural riches have been created.

As a result of the distortion of the principles of Lenininst nationality and language policy, the use of the Kyrgyz language was restricted in all spheres of social and state life. This necessitates the adoption of special measures for the development and protection of the Kyrgyz language with the help of legal institutions and on a legislative basis.

The legal establishment of the Kyrgyz language as the state language lays the basis for the protection and development of the Kyrgyz language and the national culture of the Kyrgyz people. This guarantees the all-round and comprehensive use of the Kyrgyz language in all spheres of state and social life of the republic.

The Kyrgyz SSR guarantees the free use of the Russian language as the language of international communication of the peoples of the USSR and does not restrict the rights of citizens of other nationalities to use their native languages.

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. As laid down by the Constitution of the Kyrgyz SSR, the Kyrgyz language is the state language of the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic.

2. As the state language, the Kyrgyz language is a symbol of the national sovereignty of the Kyrgyz SSR. It is used in all spheres of state and public activity – in the economy, science, technology, public education, culture and communications between the citizens of the Kyrgyz SSSR.

3. The Kyrgyz SSR guarantees the comprehensive development of the state language, and adopts and finances a state program for its use and study.

4. In the Kyrgyz SSR, the Russian language acts as the language of international communication of the peoples of the USSR. The free development of the languages of other nationalities living in the republic is protected in the Kyrgyz SSR.

5. The present law does not regulate the use of languages in the armed forces, border guards, internal troops or railway troops on the territory of the Kyrgyz SSR.

CHAPTER 2

THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS TO CHOOSE THEIR LANGUAGE AND GUARANTEES FOR THE EXERCISE OF THOSE RIGHTS

6. In the Kyrgyz SSR, every citizen has the right freely to choose his or her language of communication.

7. Citizens of the Kyrgyz SSR have the right to communicate with state bodies, organizations, institutions and enterprises in the state language and in other languages used in the republic.

8. Officials and others employed in the organs of state power and administration, public and cooperative organizations, law enforcement bodies, and educational, health, cultural, communications, transport, trade and service institutions, whose work brings them into contact with the general population, are obliged to ensure that the state language is used in their work.

9. Congresses, meetings, conferences, plenums and other public and political functions in the Kyrgyz SSR are conducted in the state language. Participants may choose to communicate in Russian or any other language as long as translation into the state and Russian languages is provided. The working language of international and all-Union conferences and meetings is determined by their organizing committees.

10. The obligation to teach children the state and other native languages belongs to parents.

CHAPTER 3

LANGUAGE IN THE ORGANS OF STATE POWER AND ADMINISTRATION

11. The state language is the working language of the organs of state power and administration of the Kyrgyz SSR. It is used in business, meetings and working conferences, in conjunction with a translation into the Russian language for the benefit of those who do not speak the state language.

12. Decisions of the organs of state power and administration are adopted in the state language and are published in two languages -- the state language and Russian.

13. The organs of state power and administration of the Kyrgyz SSR use the Russian language when dealing with all-Union bodies of state power and administration.

With the state organs of the Union Republics, they use the state and the Russian languages. When dealing with foreign states, they use the state language and the Russian language, since the latter is a language of international communication.

14. The organs of state power and administration of the Kyrgyz SSR and its officials address citizens and reply to their letters, applications and complaints in either the state or the Russian language.

15. The organs of state power and administration issue documents to citizens in the state and Russian languages.

16. Local organs of state power and administration in places of compact settlement of national groups (Uzbeks, Tajiks, Germans, Dungans, Uighurs and others) have the right to use their native language alongside the state language. Translations must be provided for those not speaking the language in question.

CHAPTER 4

USING THE STATE LANGUAGE IN ENTERPRISES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS

17. In enterprises, organizations and institutions on the territory of the Kyrgyz SSR, internal business is conducted in the state language and Russian.

In work collectives where the majority of the members of staff do not speak the state language, internal business may be conducted in either the state language or Russian or any other appropriate language. Circumstances permitting, a translation into the state language should be made.

Written correspondence between enterprises, institutions and organizations and their own correspondence with the organs of state power and administration are conducted in the state language and, where appropriate, in Russian.

18. Technical documents drafted by enterprises, institutions and organizations of the Kyrgyz SSR, and intended for use in the republic, should be composed in the state language or in Russian.

19. Accounts and financial reports prepared by enterprises, institutions and organizations should be in either the state language or Russian with a translation into the state language. Accounts and financial reports prepared by enterprises, institutions and organizations intended for use outside the territory of the Kyrgyz SSR should be in Russian.

20. The managements of enterprises, institutions and organizations are obliged to ensure that the necessary conditions exist in work collectives for the study of the state, Russian and other languages used on the territory of the republic.

CHAPTER 5

LANGUAGE IN THE SPHERE OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE

21. The state language is the main language of communication and study in the state education system of the Kyrgyz SSR, in pre-school institutions, in secondary schools, professional and technical schools and institutions of higher education. At the same time, citizens are guaranteed freedom to choose in which language they wish to study.

In pre-school institutions, secondary schools, professional and technical schools and institutions of higher education where Russian or other languages are the languages of study, teaching and study of the state language are mandatory. An examination in the state language is taken by graduating students.

In pre-school institutions, secondary schools, professional and technical schools and institutions of higher education where instruction is conducted in the state language, teaching and study of Russian, as the language of international communication of the peoples of the USSR, are mandated. An examination in the Russian language is taken by graduating students.

22. Conditions are created in the Kyrgyz SSR for the study of the Kyrgyz script in both its Arabic and Latin forms in secondary schools and in special and higher educational institutions specializing in the humanities and teaching in the Kyrgyz language.

23. In the Kyrgyz SSR, freedom of choice of language is guaranteed for scientific work. At the same time, conditions are created for broadening the scope of research in all areas of knowledge and for publishing the results of research and scientific achievements in the state language.

The defense of scientific work in pursuit of scholarly distinction is conducted in both the state and the Russian languages.

24. The state language is the main language used in the Krygyz SSR in the sphere of literature, the mass media, propaganda and book publishing. At the same time, the cultural interests of citizens residing in the republic and using Russian or other languages are also taken into account.

25. In places compactly settled by national and ethnic groups (Uzbeks, Tajiks, Germans, Dungans, Uighurs and so on), access to school education, distribution of printed materials and information in the native language, and the development of national cultures are guaranteed.

CHAPTER 6

USE OF THE STATE LANGUAGE IN THE COURTS, ARBITRATION, NOTARISATION AND REGISTRATION OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

26. The courts carry out their work in the state language or in the language spoken by the majority of the population in a given locality.

Interested parties who are unfamiliar with the language in which court proceedings are being conducted are guaranteed the possibility of using their native language and of having the services of a translator according to the manner laid down by the code of court procedure of the Kyrgyz SSR.

27. The organs of state arbitration of the Kyrgyz SSR conduct their activity in the state and Russian languages.

28. Notarization and registration of official documents are performed in the state and Russian languages.

CHAPTER 7

THE USE OF LANGUAGE IN NAMES, TITLES AND INFORMATION

29. In the Kyrgyz SSR, every town, village, street, square and other administrative-territorial geographical place has a single name formed in accordance with historical tradition and the laws of the Kyrgyz language. The names of enterprises, institutions and organizations should be written in both the state language and Russian.

30. Personal names and surnames are used and written in accordance with national traditions.

Citizens of Kyrgyz descent may adapt their surnames by the addition of a patronymic. Names and surnames in other languages are written and used in the Kyrgyz language in accordance with the rules governing the translation of foreign names.

31. Texts of official publications, stamps and seals of institutions, enterprises and organizations must be formulated in the state language accompanied by a Russian translation.

32. Announcements, advertisements, price-lists and other forms of publicity are displayed in the state and Russian languages.

Aural information is conveyed first in the state language, then in Russian.

33. Postal and telegraphic correspondence on the territory of the Kyrgyz SSR is effected in the state or the Russian language. Except for international mail, mail destined for locations outside the borders of Kyrgyzstan is addressed in Russian.

34. Commercial labels, markings, inventories of commodities and instructions for their use are written in the state language and in Russian. Trademarks remain in their original language and are not translated.

CHAPTER 8

DEFENSE AND PRESERVATION OF THE STATE LANGUAGE

35. The norms of the Kyrgyz literary language are observed when the language is used in an official capacity.

The norms of the Kyrgyz literary language are elaborated and preserved by the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR and come into force after they have been approved by the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR.

36. Within the bounds of their competence, leading officials in the organs of state power and administration, enterprises, institutions and organizations of the Kyrgyz SSR are responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the present law are met.

37. The defense and preservation of the state language, Russian and other languages are the responsibility of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR as far as the republic as a whole is concerned, and of the relevant Councils of People's Deputies at the regional, city and village level.

38. Disrespectful or hostile attitudes to the state or any other language are forbidden in the Kyrgyz SSR, as is the deliberate infringement of the right of citizens to choose their language. Denigration of citizens on grounds of language is punishable in accordance with the law.

39. In accordance with the Constitution of the USSR and the norms of international cooperation, the Kyrgyz SSR concerns itself with the preservation, development and study of the Kyrgyz language outside the borders of the republic.

40. The procedures and time frame for the application of the present law are determined by the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR.

Signed by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR and the Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR, Frunze [now Bishkek], September 23, 1989.

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