Member of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan, Ulugbek Ormonov, has introduced a bill for public discussion to establish genealogical museums in the country. In his explanatory note, the parliamentarian highlights the growing popularity of genealogy as an auxiliary historical discipline worldwide, focusing on the history of lineages, the origins of individuals, and familial relationships.
Known as "sanzhyra" in Kyrgyz, genealogy has been traditionally studied and orally transmitted among Kyrgyz generations. Sanzhyra is a significant tradition of the Kyrgyz people, where every individual is expected to know the names of their ancestors up to the seventh generation through the paternal line.
Ormonov emphasizes the importance of preserving and developing sanzhyra as a key tradition of the Kyrgyz people, calling for the use of scientific approaches. This includes the establishment of genealogical museums to collect, store, study, and promote familial relationships, lineage histories, origins of individuals, determining kinship ties, and creating genealogical trees. These efforts are crucial for ensuring historical continuity between generations.
However, the absence of legislative regulation for such museums in the country poses formal obstacles to the collection, study, storage, exhibition, and popularization of genealogical materials and documents. In response to this issue, the drafted bill aims to address these gaps and provide a legal framework for the establishment and operation of genealogical museums in Kyrgyzstan.
