Experts from the Coordination Center for TLDs .RU/.РФ participated in the Kyrgyzstan Internet Governance Forum (KIGF 2025), held today in Bishkek. As a national component of the global Internet Governance Forum, KIGF 2025 focused on the theme, The Internet for Sustainable Development and Bridging the Digital Divide.
At the forum’s opening, Azizbek Pirmamatov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic, highlighted the nation’s ongoing digital development effort, focusing on the government’s priority to narrow the digital divide between urban and rural populations. He noted a sustained push to build fiber-optic communication lines, which now reach nearly every community. The Deputy Minister also discussed the development of the country’s Digital Code, which is set to come into force in February 2026.
Vahan Hovsepyan, External Relations Officer for the Caucasus and Central Asia at the RIPE NCC, emphasized that his organization supports Kyrgyzstan’s technical and academic communities.
“It’s important to develop young professionals. With the evolution of the internet and new technologies, entire industries are being transformed, and many professions are changing. That’s why fundamental knowledge is so crucial – it allows us to be flexible, keep pace with change, and be a part of it,” he stated.
Tattu Mambetalieva, Director of the Civil Initiative on Internet Policy public foundation, provided a more detailed look at the developing Digital Code. During a session on Prospects, Opportunities, and Challenges in Governing the Digital Environment under the New Digital Code, she explained that the Code is designed as a new regulatory philosophy, developed jointly with the Ministry of Digital Development. Its goal is to create favorable conditions for protecting human and civil rights and freedoms in the digital space, foster the country’s digital economy, and enhance Kyrgyzstan’s investment appeal. The Code aims to both mitigate risks associated with new technologies and promote their development.
“The Digital Code strengthens the powers of the National Communications Agency of Kyrgyzstan, specifically by adding antitrust regulation authority,” Tattu Mambetalieva added.
She also noted that the Code aims to harmonize with international standards, a move that requires not only adding extensive ITU terminology but also amending the existing terminology used in Kyrgyzstan’s ICT regulation.
Irina Danelia, Deputy Director of the Coordination Center, spoke about current Russian laws and regulations related to internet governance. She pointed out that on issues currently insufficiently addressed in legislation, the industry is developing and implementing its own regulation and self-regulation mechanisms. A key example is the domain industry, where the Coordination Center is developing domain name registration rules that govern relations between all participants; these rules are also taken into account by courts when resolving domain disputes.
She also highlighted the voluntary collaboration within the domain industry through the Domain Patrol project. This initiative brings together competent organizations, registrars, and government agencies to combat domain abuse.
In conclusion, Irina Danelia stressed that reducing the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion should be key topics for future discussions on internet accessibility at Internet Governance Forum venues.
