Women serving in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan shared their experiences with journalists from 24.kg. They spoke about their duties, love for their work, and how modern technologies assist in solving crimes and finding missing persons.
Ensuring the Safety of Bishkek
One of the key divisions is the situational center of the public safety service of the Bishkek City Police Department, which monitors safety in the capital around the clock. The deputy head of the center, police lieutenant colonel Gulnara Sharshenalieva, notes that about 90% of the staff are women.
“Women are more attentive and patient; they carefully monitor the cameras and can notice even the smallest details. What a man might overlook, a woman often catches,” says Gulnara Sharshenalieva.
Gulnara Sharshenalieva
In Bishkek, there are about a thousand cameras in the "Safe City" system, installed on streets, near educational institutions, and in public places. These devices not only help solve crimes but also prevent them and facilitate the quick search for missing children.
The situational center includes two groups: monitoring and service 102. Monitoring staff track events in the city around the clock and, upon detecting violations, pass information to service 102, where data is recorded, and the nearest crew is dispatched to the scene.
Every day, service 102 receives more than 2,000 calls, about 800 of which concern specific violations.
Thanks to modern technologies, the coordination of patrols is more efficient: their movements are displayed in real-time on monitors using heat maps.
Gulnara Sharshenalieva notes that the implementation of digital systems has significantly increased the crime-solving rate. Staff can analyze recordings from cameras, reconstruct the chronology of events, and identify violations more quickly.
Nurgul Isakova's Path to the Police
Behind the numbers and technologies lies human labor. Police major Nurgul Isakova, a mother of three, has been working in the field of protecting the rights of minors for 17 years. She noted that the situational center significantly eases her work.
Nurgul shared what inspired her to choose this profession and how she manages to balance service and motherhood.
— What inspired you to serve in the police?
— Since childhood, I dreamed of working in law enforcement, and my family's history greatly influenced my choice: my grandfather was one of the first police officers in Kyrgyzstan, and I decided to continue his legacy.
As a child, I played with boys, we played army, and I read books about Sherlock Holmes, fascinated by solving mysteries and investigating crimes.
— Do you remember your grandfather?
— Unfortunately, no. But my mother tells stories about his service and his fight against the Basmachis. His photographs are kept in the Ministry of Internal Affairs museum, and one of the schools in the Kadamjai district is named after him.
— Is it difficult for women in the police?
— Yes, we have to prove our abilities twice as much. A strong character and stress resilience are necessary. But the work is hard for everyone; we do not divide it into "male" and "female."
— How do you balance work and family?
— It’s difficult but possible. The main thing is discipline. Sometimes I get tired at work, but at home, I try not to show my fatigue. After work, I switch to the role of wife and mother, not bringing work problems home.
Working for Children's Safety
— What are your official duties?
— I supervise the juvenile inspection in Bishkek. Our department has 134 employees, and we coordinate their work, provide methodological assistance, and monitor compliance with the law in preventive activities.
We regularly hold meetings with government agencies and municipal services to discuss child safety issues.
— How do raids go?
— We conduct them several times a month, with the main goal being the safety of children, especially at night. We warn parents about the need to accompany their children outside.
During Ramadan, children often sing "jaramazan," and sometimes this turns into begging. We communicate with parents, and in case of repeated violations, we impose fines.
— Is it easier for children to communicate with female officers?
— Yes, there are more women in our department. Children open up more easily, feel supported, and are more willing to engage.
— What are you proud of in your service?
— That we protect children. We help minors who find themselves in difficult situations, and our goal is to prevent crimes, not just solve them.
The main task of the juvenile inspection is to prevent children from straying from the right path.
Unfortunately, sometimes we have to take children from families where they experience violence, or those who run away because of it.
Photo 24.kg. Police Major Nurgul Isakova
— Where do children go when they run away from home?
— They are temporarily placed in specialized centers where psychologists and social educators work. We also interact with parents and relatives.
Our goal is to return the child to the family, as they should grow up in it. The commission for child affairs provides a period of three to six months for preventive work with the family.
— What qualities are important for a female leader in the police?
— She must be fair, principled, and moderately strict.
— What does your typical day look like?
— In the morning, I send my children to school, then I go to work. After service, I prepare dinner and talk to my children about their day, helping them with their homework.
— How do you manage to do all this?
— Honestly, sometimes I don’t manage (laughs). It can be tough, but when you love your job, you try to find balance.
Work as a Calling
— Have you learned to control your emotions over 17 years of service?
— I try not to show my worries on the outside, but everything goes through me inside. I have children, and I constantly think about what it’s like for a child to be alone on the street without adult support.
— Is there a story that particularly stands out to you?
— Yes, at the beginning of my career, a complaint was made about a third-grade boy who often ran away from home.
The boy was in a difficult situation: his mother was in prison, and he lived with his grandmother and brother. Sometimes the grandmother abused alcohol, and the boy was punished for disobedience.
We temporarily removed him from the family because he did not want to return home. I supported him and enrolled him in chess, which he really enjoyed.
Later, he was placed in a foster family, which turned out to be good. A few years later, I met him again — he had grown into a tall, well-mannered young man, was doing well in school, and had restored his relationship with his biological family.
— Do you keep in touch with the children you worked with?
— Sometimes. That boy even came to my house when he was afraid to go home.
— Do modern technologies help in finding missing children?
— Yes, the "Safe City" system allows tracking children's routes. Cameras are installed near schools and on many streets in the city.
The system recognizes faces, which significantly speeds up the search process.
Previously, this would take days, but now a child can be found within one to two hours.
— Where do children most often go?
— It varies. Some go to relatives, others just hang out in parks or shopping centers. Over time, staff develop an intuition that helps them determine where to search more quickly.
— At what age do children most often run away from home?
— Previously, this mainly happened at 15-16 years old, but now, unfortunately, the age has dropped to 10 years.
— Does female intuition help in work?
— Often. When communicating with children, they may leave things unsaid or lie. You can intuitively feel where the truth lies.
March 8 - A Celebration of Spring
— What is the most important thing in raising children?
— Love, care, trust, and discipline.
— What is the secret to your energy?
— Inner discipline. I try to find time for sports, which helps a lot. I attend training sessions and constantly improve my qualifications.
— How do you switch off after work?
— I used to not know how to do this and would bring my worries home. I realized that this negatively affected my family. Now I try not to discuss work, although calls still come in sometimes.
— What does March 8 mean to you?
— It is a celebration of spring. In my childhood, my father always brought my mother a bucket of tulips, and these flowers are associated with this day for me.
On this spring day, I want to wish all women happiness, peace, self-love, and the fulfillment of all their wishes!
