Despite international investments, the city’s only emission-free transport system, the trolleybus network, was dismantled in 2024. This occurred under questionable circumstances, without full legal approval, and under the pretense of a sustainable transition. But what is the real story behind this?
Bishkek’s mayor, Aybek Jushunaliev, is at the center of a scandal involving the dismantling of the city’s trolleybus system. Despite an ongoing loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), overhead wires were removed in 2024, and the last trolleybus routes were shut down. Activists attempted multiple times to stop the demolition, but to no avail.
The city government justifies the removal of trolleybuses by citing outdated technology and economic inefficiency. However, this decision was based on a controversial consultancy report. At the same time, public transport was severely disrupted by the ban on minibuses and the switch to CNG buses, leading to overcrowded and unreliable services.
International financial institutions are alarmed: the EBRD had explicitly stated that its loan-funded trolleybus system must remain in Bishkek. Nonetheless, 100 trolleybuses were transferred to Osh without authorization, where they remain unused. Public pressure is mounting, with citizen protests, lawsuits, and media coverage raising serious concerns about the legality of these actions.
The result: a dysfunctional transport system, rising air pollution, and a city administration entangled in contradictions. As Bishkek continues to grapple with the consequences of these decisions, the question remains—who will ultimately be held accountable?