The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic initiated this proposal to protect citizens from counterfeit and uncertified cigarettes, combat smuggling, and boost tax revenues.
In 2023, the Kyrgyz Tax Service seized 65,231 packs of illegal cigarettes. The share of counterfeit cigarettes in the country was 17.7%, with brands such as Oris, Mondeo, Like, and Madrid, produced in the UAE and Serbia, failing to meet certification standards. Experts highlight that Kyrgyzstan has become a central hub for the illegal tobacco trade in Central Asia. Over the past four years, the volume of cigarettes allegedly destined for duty-free shops has surged more than tenfold, with 300 million packs passing through customs warehouses and duty-free zones in 2023.
