Kyrgyzstan has officially banned the cremation of human remains, implementing a strict prohibition on the practice across the country. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, this legislative change represents a major overhaul of the nation's funeral and burial protocols.
The law, signed by President Sadyr Japarov, aims to refine the legal framework governing funeral services and to clearly distinguish between ritual activities and the sanitary-technical disposal of biological materials. Under the new regulations, all provisions previously permitting the cremation of deceased individuals have been repealed.
The legislation explicitly prohibits the use of crematoriums for the incineration of human bodies, including those of stillborn infants or fetal remains resulting from abortions. The only exception permitted under the new law is the thermal destruction of human organs and tissues generated during medical procedures, which remains allowed for sanitary and safety purposes. Furthermore, the law removes provisions that previously authorized the burial or reburial of urns containing human ashes.
This legislative move reflects a broader trend in Central Asia, where traditional burial practices remain deeply rooted in cultural and religious customs. By standardizing these procedures, the Kyrgyz government seeks to align funeral services with national sanitary norms and cultural expectations, effectively ending the practice of cremation for human remains within its borders.
