3 March 1992; 33 years ago (1992-03-03) (first introduction) 26 December 2023; 15 months ago (2023-12-26) (current version)
Design
A red field charged with a yellow sun with forty uniformly spaced rays, representing the forty clans united in legend by Manas; the sun is crossed by two sets of four lines, representing the traditional Kyrgyz yurt.
A red field charged with thenational emblem in the center, used by local governments in Kyrgyzstan
TheState Flag of the Kyrgyz Republic[a] consists of a red field charged with a yellow sun that contains a depiction of atunduk, the opening in the center of the roof of ayurt (traditional nomadic tent). Adopted in 1992, just over seven months after the country's independence was declared, to replace theflag of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, it has been the flag ofKyrgyzstan since that year. The red on the flag is said to be inspired by the pennant lifted byManas, the country'sfolk hero.
Shahada flag used by Kyrgyz rebels in revolts in 1898 and inJizzakh in 1916.flag used by Kyrgyz rebels in revolt in 1916, resembling the present dayPolish flag.
InSemirechye, under the leadership of Mokush Shabdanov,[3] they used the white and red banner of Shabdan Dzhantayev.[4][5]
UnderSoviet rule, theUnion Republic — coterminous with modern-dayKyrgyzstan — utilized a flag derived from theflag of the Soviet Union andrepresenting Communism, that was adopted in 1953.[6] It declared itself independent on 31 August 1991, approximately four months before thedissolution of the Soviet Union.[7] Nevertheless, the Soviet-era flag maintained its status as the national flag for seven months after independence was declared.[6] It was finally replaced by new design on 3 March 1992, one day after Kyrgyzstan was admitted to the United Nations along with seven other post-Soviet states.[6][8]
Kyrgyz former flag in flight, photographed in 2008
In late 2023, a debate was led in theZhogorku Kengesh (parliament of Kyrgyzstan) to straighten the wavy sun rays due to its supposed similarity to a sunflower,[9][10] which in Kyrgyz culture can signify "a fickle and servile person willing to switch allegiance for personal benefit". The bill passed its first reading on 29 November, and second and third readings on 20 December.[11][12] The bill was signed into law by PresidentSadyr Japarov on 22 December.[13] The law was officially published on 26 December and came into force on the same day.[14]
The interior view of a Kyrgyz yurt's roofOne of the proposed national flags from 2011.
The colors and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The red field stands for "bravery and valor",[7] and alludes to the purported emblem hoisted byManas, thenational hero of Kyrgyzstan.[6][16] The sun epitomizes peace and prosperity,[7] while its 40 rays stand for the number of tribes united by Manas to fight against theMongols,[16][17] as well as the number of followers he had.[6][8]
The centre of the sun features a stylized illustration of the roof (tunduk) atop a traditional Kyrgyz tent (yurt) when viewed from the interior.[6][8][18] Although these tents are less commonly used today,[6] its incorporation into the flag is meant to symbolize the "origin of life", the "unity of time and space", as well as the people's "hearth and home" and their history.[6][8]
In late 2023, a debate was led in theZhogorku Kengesh (parliament of Kyrgyzstan) to straighten the wavy sun rays due to its supposed similarity to asunflower,[19][20] which in Kyrgyz culture can signify "a fickle and servile person willing to switch allegiance for personal benefit". The bill passed its first reading on 29 November, and second and third readings on 20 December.[21][22] The bill was signed into law by PresidentSadyr Japarov on 22 December.[13] The law was officially published on 26 December and came into force on the same day.[14]
The red field has also been the source of much criticism. Some believe that it evokes the nation's tempestuous history, while others are of the opinion that it is a lingering remnant ofcommunism in the country.[23]
^Kyrgyz:Кыргыз Республикасынын Мамлекеттик туусу,romanized: Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik tuusu;Russian:Государственный Флаг Кыргызской Республики
^"Три варианта. Что хотят изменить во флаге Кыргызстана?" [Three options. What do they want to change in the flag of Kyrgyzstan?].Радио Азаттык (Кыргызская служба Радио Свободная Европа/Радио Свобода) (in Russian). 2023-10-26. Retrieved2023-10-31.
^"Три варианта. Что хотят изменить во флаге Кыргызстана?" [Three options. What do they want to change in the flag of Kyrgyzstan?].Радио Азаттык (Кыргызская служба Радио Свободная Европа/Радио Свобода) (in Russian). 2023-10-26. Retrieved2023-10-31.
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