Crime in Kyrgyzstan

Crime risks vary by place and situation. Bishkek, Osh Bazaar, markets, department stores, internet cafés, public transport, parks and nightlife areas require particular care against pickpocketing, bag-snatching, mugging and vehicle theft. At night, use a pre-booked or licensed taxi where possible. Keep valuables concealed and distributed, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, buy your own drinks and keep them in sight, and refuse unsolicited offers. Carry your passport, identity document or a notarized copy because local police may sanction a person who cannot show identification. The National Statistical Committee recorded about 41,961 offences in Kyrgyzstan in 2023. Theft accounted for about 17,830 cases, fraud for 8,820, hooliganism for 1,870, drug-related offences for 1,371, murder for 155, rape for 268 and robbery for 137. About 5,000 cases were classified as serious or especially serious, and the recorded crime rate was about 852 offences per 100,000 people aged 14 or older. These figures describe registered cases. Changes to the Criminal Code in 2019 and 2021 limit direct comparison across the whole period from 2019 to 2023. For immediate danger, call 102 for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the милиция, or call 112, the free unified emergency number for police, medical assistance, fire and disaster services. A crime report can be made orally or in writing at the territorial ОВД, the local internal-affairs body. The authority normally needs the reporting person's identity and address. An anonymous criminal complaint is not entered into the Едином реестре преступлений, the Unified Register of Crimes, according to the documented procedure. The usual process is a report, registration, an initial review, an investigation and possible referral to the prosecutor and court. Record the time and place, preserve photographs, messages, URLs, transaction data and witness details, and request a receipt or written record. Do not make a direct cash payment to a police officer. Record an officer's name, service number and location if a police interaction becomes relevant. The Генеральная прокуратура accepts electronic complaints, although anonymous submissions may receive no further attention. A nationwide official online crime-reporting portal was not established in the reviewed sources. Digital fraud includes telephone scams, fake prizes sent through messengers, fake investments and pyramid schemes, as well as romance, money-transfer, job, permit, lottery, inheritance and fake-authority scams. Scammers may pressure people to disclose one-time codes, passwords or account logins. End the conversation, never share those credentials, contact the bank or service provider immediately to block the account, preserve the device, chats, URLs and payment records, and report the matter to 102 or the relevant ОВД. Cybercrime prevention work by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Главное управление уголовного розыска and cybervolunteers is documented, but a separate direct cybercrime reporting channel was not confirmed. Family violence is a major part of the safety picture. Authorities registered 13,104 family-violence cases in 2023, involving 11,159 affected people, including 10,884 women, 275 men and 198 minors. They issued 11,357 protective orders. Under the current procedure, a protective order is issued within 24 hours, initially for three days, and can be extended on request for up to 30 days. It can prohibit violence and direct or indirect contact, and a breach can lead to sanctions. Affected people may seek a state or municipal shelter, psychosocial assistance, and a court order for temporary removal or contact restrictions. The current form and local implementation should be checked with the responsible authority. For a person under 14 or someone lacking legal capacity, a legal representative, child-protection authority or youth inspector may request an extension. The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration operates the free, confidential and anonymous 24-hour national hotline 5200 for family violence and human trafficking. It can provide or arrange psychological, social, legal and medical support and safe accommodation. Crisis centres and shelters may be state-run, municipal or operated by an NGO; availability and language support differ by region. A 2026 Cabinet resolution provides for inter-institutional coordination and one-window assistance. In the 2025 official overview, Kyrgyzstan had 16 crisis centres, 10 of them with protective accommodation. Children can call the free 24-hour national hotline 111. Psychologists document the report and refer it to child-protection services or other authorities. In 2023, authorities registered 1,832 offences against children, including 160 rape cases. They also identified 1,552 children aged 14 to 17 as participants in offences; theft accounted for 49.2 percent, fraud-like taking of property for 16.9 percent and hooliganism for 10.4 percent. Reports of violence against children should be registered promptly in the Unified Register of Crimes under the Ministry of Internal Affairs procedure. General travel assessments describe Kyrgyzstan as requiring ordinary caution, while false officials, extortion, night attacks, drink spiking and sexual assault remain specific risks. Local security conditions near Batken and during demonstrations require separate assessment rather than being treated as ordinary crime statistics.