Hungarian politician finds cultural kinship with Kyrgyz people

Sándor Lezsák, a Hungarian poet and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, fosters cultural ties with Kyrgyzstan through the People's Institute in Lakitelek.

Lezsák and his wife Gabriella established the People's Institute in the early 1990s. This institution eventually formed the Hungarikum Liget complex, which functions as a park for Hungarian values. The site hosts international meetings and educational programs for students from Kyrgyzstan. The complex includes a planetarium, museums, and a National Pantheon featuring sculptures of prominent Hungarian figures.

The town of Lakitelek holds historical weight for Lezsák because the Hungarian Democratic Forum was founded in his yard in September 1987. This event helped transition Hungary to a multiparty system. In 2023, a bronze bust of Sayakbay Karalaev, a Kyrgyz figure, was unveiled at the institute on the eve of Kyrgyzstan's Independence Day. Recent interactions include the Kyrgyz National Theater "Manas" gifting a yurt to the institute and presenting a Hungarian translation of a book by Alykul Osmonov.

Lezsák views the Kyrgyz people as relatives because of shared values and common cultural roots. He advocates for passing these traditions to younger generations as Hungary continues to develop cooperation programs with the Turkic world.