Probation Cut Prisoner Numbers in Kyrgyzstan by Almost 20%

The number of prisoners in Kyrgyzstan's correctional facilities has dropped by almost 20 percent following the introduction of a probation mechanism. This was reported by the country's Ministry of Justice.

The rate of repeat offenses among citizens placed on probation stands at around 1 percent, the ministry noted.

Almaz Ayylchiyev, head of the Ministry of Justice, met with European Union Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Remy Duflo. The two sides discussed the results of the first phase of the joint project "Justice for All" (JUST4ALL) and prospects for its continuation.

The probation mechanism provides for supervision and social support for certain categories of offenders without isolation from society. At the meeting, it was characterized as one of the key directions in reforming the justice system.

Ayylchiyev and Duflo also discussed the second phase — the JUST4ALL-2 project. This envisages the creation of a unified digital ecosystem for criminal justice, integration of information systems across government agencies, development of electronic legal services, improvement of legal statistics, and expansion of citizens' access to legal assistance.