BISHKEK -- The Kyrgyz Parliament has amended the law on the state language that would require all paperwork in Kyrgyzstan's diplomatic representations abroad to be completed in Kyrgyz, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Roza Otunbaeva, a deputy of the opposition Social Democratic Party and former foreign minister, proposed postponing the amendment on the grounds that not all Kyrgyz diplomats are able to communicate fluently in Kyrgyz.
The parliament majority nonetheless voted for the amendment. Most Kyrgyz diplomats currently use Russian in their official correspondence.
The constitution designates both Kyrgyz and Russian as official languages.
The legislation must be signed by President Kurmanbek Bakiev before taking effect.