Kyrgyz presidential aide highlights fall of criminal hierarchy in prisons VIDEO

A new regime aimed at eliminating criminal influence and enforcing strict order has been introduced across Kyrgyzstan’s prisons, presidential administration information policy chief Dairbek Orunbekov announced.

In his social media post, he emphasised that inmates had previously done little work, relied entirely on state support, and remained under the control of so-called “thieves-in-law,” Caliber.Az reports.

A small group of prisoners enjoyed privileges, while the majority faced harsh conditions and were forced to collect monthly payments for criminal bosses, with the system reportedly circulating hundreds of millions of soms.

Orunbekov states that the state has now fully restored order in correctional facilities. Production sites — small factories, farms and agricultural units — have resumed operations. Prisoners grow vegetables, raise livestock and provide for themselves while generating income for the state.

He argues that conditions have become equitable: inmates work, receive free uniforms and are provided with three meals a day.

Some can even send earnings to their families, whereas previously they had to ask relatives for support.

In his view, such reforms were impossible earlier because former authorities maintained ties with criminal groups and were unable to establish order in the penitentiary system.

For many years, organised crime — especially mafia-style “thieves-in-law” (vory v zakone) — has exerted deep control over Kyrgyz prisons, filling the gaps left by underfunded and corrupt prison administrations.

Prisoners in Kyrgyzstan have historically self-organised into informal hierarchies, with high-status inmates (“thieves-in-law”) often operating quasi-governmental roles and maintaining funds (the “obshchak”) to finance illicit trade, including narcotics.

This system was fueled by extremely low state funding: in past years, the state covered only a fraction of prison costs, making prisons dependent on these criminal structures for basic necessities.

At the same time, Kyrgyz authorities — especially since 2023 — have launched a major crackdown: dozens of “thieves-in-law” have been detained, senior crime figures publicly renounce their criminal status, and the government frames these actions as part of a broader push to restore state control over prisons.        

By Jeyhun Aghazada