Kyrgyzstan has officially prohibited cremation after President Sadyr Zhaparov signed the Law “On Burial and Funeral Services,” which introduces new regulations governing funeral practices nationwide.

The legislation, adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh on June 25, 2026, aims to strengthen the legal framework for burial and funeral services by clearly distinguishing ritual practices from sanitary and technical procedures related to the handling of biological materials, Kabar reported.

Under the new law, all provisions permitting cremation, or the burning of human remains, have been removed. It also eliminates regulations allowing the burial or reburial of urns containing cremated ashes.

In addition, the law prohibits the use of crematoriums for the incineration of deceased human bodies, as well as aborted or stillborn human fetuses. The only exception allows for the sanitary thermal destruction of human organs and tissues resulting from medical procedures.

The legislation is set to take effect ten days after its official publication.