At a meeting of the committee on science, education, innovative development, information technology, and culture, Deputy Foreign Minister Almaz Imangaziyev reported that about 1,200 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are serving sentences in Russia.
According to him, the majority of crimes are related to drugs.
In cooperation with the General Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively addressing the issues of returning convicts to their homeland.
“Since 2022, there has been an increase in requests regarding extradition. This confirms that when our citizens submit the appropriate applications, we initiate the process in the established manner,” added Imangaziyev.
He also noted that changes have been made to the laws to expedite extradition procedures. For example, in 2025, about 300 convicts were transferred from Russia to Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz diplomats, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and diasporas in Russia, are actively conducting educational work on issues related to drugs.
Additionally, consuls regularly hold meetings with convicts to explain the legal aspects to them.
“Unfortunately, the level of drug-related crimes remains high. Some citizens commit such acts unconsciously, while others act deliberately. Nevertheless, work in this direction continues,” the official concluded.
photo www
