Foreign nationals face poor conditions in Kyrgyz detention facility Photo

Kyrgyzstan’s Ombudsman, Jamila Jamanbaeva, has raised serious concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals at the Centre for Temporary Detention of Foreigners and Stateless Persons in the Chui region, located on the former Gansi military base, according to the Ombudsman’s press service.

Jamanbaeva said that her office was twice denied access to the facility, a move she described as a violation of the constitutional law “On the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic”. Authorities’ obstruction has sparked fears that the centre may be concealing systemic rights violations, Caliber.Az reports per Kyrgyz media.

Following interventions from the General and Military Prosecutor’s Offices, monitoring of the centre was successfully conducted on November 3, 2025. Inspectors found severe deficiencies in living conditions, including lack of heating in most rooms, malfunctioning air conditioners, closed toilets inside the building, composting toilets in the courtyard, and temporary shower tents.

The statement also highlighted that detained foreigners are forced to prepare their own meals outdoors, receive inadequate nutrition, and are denied access to communication and legal assistance. Phones are confiscated, leaving detainees unable to contact lawyers, relatives, or interpreters—contravening both the Kyrgyz Constitution and the Law “On State-Guaranteed Legal Assistance.”

Following the inspection, the Ombudsman sent an appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers demanding that the violations be addressed. However, in December 2025, officials again obstructed a repeat inspection, requiring additional authorisation. The findings have been resubmitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Jamanbaeva called on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take action against officials who impede the Ombudsman’s work and compromise the transparency of the detention centre.

By Sabina Mammadli