OSCE supports Kyrgyzstan in developing police reform

The OSCE has concluded a five-day visit to Kyrgyzstan to assess the ongoing police development and reform. The visit was a joint effort from the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

During the trip, the OSCE team met with the Minister of Interior of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ulan Niyazbekov, and other interlocutors in the Ministry, including the Academy, Regional Training Centre, Service for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking, and the Bishkek Main Police Directorate.

“The Ministry attaches great importance to this visit and the assessment of the state of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry. We believe this will lead to possible assistance in supporting police reform in Kyrgyzstan, as it is aimed at promoting democratic change in the country,” Niyazbekov said.

“We will carry out the reform processes on the basis of the principle ‘police is out of politics, police is for the people’. This means transforming all police activities by focusing on building mutual trust and partnership with our inhabitants.” he continued.

“The purpose of our visit is to take stock of the needs of the Kyrgyz law enforcement system and the OSCE’s ability to meet them. The more detailed and thorough information we can gather, the better we can prepare an assessment report to inform OSCE participating States on our possible support for police reform in Kyrgyzstan,” said Sami Ryhänen, Head of Strategic Police Matters Unit/TNTD.

The OSCE team received information on the legal framework and practical activities in the field of police reform, accountability and integrity of the Kyrgyz police, gender perspective, and staff training in the educational institutions of the Ministry of Interior. Human rights issues in law enforcement, including in places of detention, was a particular focus for the discussions.

The Kyrgyz interlocutors reported on their plans to improve crime prevention and investigations, develop forensic services, strengthen community policing and the partnership between the police and the public.

The OSCE experts informed about their intelligence-led policing events, projects on combating organized crime and illicit drug trafficking as well as addressing gender-based and domestic violence, which are planned for the OSCE Central Asian participating States, including Kyrgyzstan, and could contribute to police reform in the country.

The OSCE team also visited the Office of the Prosecutor General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and met with representatives of the Kyrgyz Association of Women in Security Sector as well as the Public Council of the Ministry of Interior.