Kyrgyzstan

Thematic pillars

Thematic priorties
Thematic priority	Score
Political Commitment Against Torture
Ending Police Brutality & Institutional Violence
Freedom from Torture in Detention
Ending Impunity
Victims' Rights
Protection for All
Right to Defend and Civic Space

low risk
very high risk

Recommendations

1

Take decisive measures to implement the rulings of UN human rights treaty bodies that have found Kyrgyzstan in violation of the right to freedom from torture and cruel treatment. Acknowledge the Committee against Torture’s authority to hear complaints from individuals in Kyrgyzstan alleging violations of the Convention.

2

Establish a zero-tolerance policy towards torture and ill-treatment by police officers, strengthen efforts to reform the police force, and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

3

Conduct thorough investigations into any acts that obstruct or interfere with the work of the National Centre for the Prevention of Torture, ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, and implement preventative measures to avoid recurrence.

4

Strengthen initiatives to improve conditions in places of deprivation of liberty, ensuring they respect the dignity of those detained and comply with international standards.

5

Maintain efforts to ensure that all cases of torture and ill-treatment are investigated and prosecuted thoroughly, fairly, and swiftly, with offenders held accountable in accordance with the severity of their crimes, and victims' rights fully restored. In addition, amend the law to eliminate the possibility of pardoning individuals convicted of torture.

6

Amend Article 137 of the Criminal Code to expand the definition of torture, ensuring that not only public officials but all individuals acting in an official capacity can be held accountable under the law.

7

Establish a rehabilitation centre offering comprehensive and free services to victims of torture and ill-treatment, as well as their families. Alternatively, allocate funding to support rehabilitation programmes provided by relevant civil society organisations.

8

Maintain efforts to combat violence against women by promptly investigating complaints, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable, and safeguarding the rights and best interests of the victims throughout the process.

9

Conduct a comprehensive legal review, incorporating recommendations from UN Special Rapporteurs, national and international partners, and civil society organisations, to implement measures that actively prevent the stigmatisation and restrictions on the work of civil society organisations and activists, and protect against harassment, intimidation, and violence.

10

Repeal the 'foreign representatives' law and guarantee the right to freedom of association in the country. Halt the intimidation campaign against Kloop Media and release journalist Makahbbat Tazhibek Kyzy.

Good practices

Ending Police Brutality and Institutional Violence
The use of firearms and less-lethal weapons by law enforcement officials is regulated by law and complies with international standards for all types of weapons. Additionally, law enforcement officials receive training based on a human rights approach emphasising restraint and moderation to avoid unnecessary use of force and coercion.
Freedom from Torture in Detention
Kyrgyzstan has established a National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NPM), which is the strongest and most independent in the EECA region and works closely with civil society organisations. The NPM is authorised to carry out periodic, independent, unannounced, and unrestricted visits to all places of detention, with its findings made available to the public. It also has the authority to receive and act on complaints, hold private meetings with individuals deprived of their liberty, present allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CIDTP) to the competent authorities, review detention-related rules and personnel issues, and issue reports and recommendations to places of deprivation of liberty and state authorities.

Transparency and Access to Information

Access to information must be guaranteed in every society, both in law and practice, to ensure State transparency and accountability. It allows organisations, journalists, and interested individuals to request data on the actions of public bodies, protocols, and statistics on human rights violations. This right not only enhances public debate and civic participation in decision-making but also helps improve public policies and safeguards the dignity of individuals in State custody. Civil society organisations and human rights defenders play a key role in monitoring access to information laws and their implementation. This indicator reflects the challenges of accessing information within the country—the higher the score, the less transparent the State.

In March 2017, a shopkeeper in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, was brutally tortured by police officers seeking a confession in connection with the murder of a Lieutenant Colonel, whom she was accused of being romantically involved with. They claimed her husband killed him out of jealousy. They both endured horrific abuse over several days, including threats to their family. Her husband confessed under duress and despite his disability and the implausibility of the accusations, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable began in 2019 but faced systemic obstruction. She has been denied victim status and in October 2023, the Supreme Court rejected her final appeal, effectively ending any domestic legal recourse. With no justice achieved, she is now turning to the UN Human Rights Committee for redress.

Torture Survivor