In Kyrgyzstan, they considered that the name of the lake was "too Russian" and suggested renaming it so that there was nothing Russian left in the name. This is reported by the "Asian Express".
A well-known lawyer and human rights activist in the republic, Erzhan Sulaiman, took the initiative to rename the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul, to Kyrgyz Sea in English or Kyrgyz Denizi in Turkish.
He wonders: why is the Russian-language version of "Issyk—Kul" still used in official use, while the historically correct Kyrgyz name is "Ysyk-Kol"? As a solution, Sulaiman proposes not only to restore the original spelling, but also to completely change the name so that it becomes more recognizable in the international arena and emphasizes the importance of this largest body of water for the country.
This proposal caused a heated debate. Some of the participants in the discussion believe that it is time to abandon the names that they believe have been misinterpreted in the past. However, others warn that such a decision will require significant financial costs: it will be necessary to make changes to international documents, maps, travel guides, textbooks and numerous official registers.
It is clear that this proposal is largely populist. However, it is safe to say that it will resonate with those who have been consistently advocating a revision of the historical heritage for several years, including changing the names of streets, settlements and other objects. The question is whether another renaming will improve people's lives.