The effectiveness of justice is determined not only by the severity of sentences but also by their actual enforcement. For a long time, the bailiff system in Kyrgyzstan raised many questions: low collection rates, bureaucracy, and corruption risks undermined citizens' trust in justice. In the summer of 2025, a significant change occurred - the Bailiff Service was transferred to the jurisdiction of the General Prosecutor's Office. The acting director of the Bailiff Service, Colonel of Justice Jyrgalbek Kurmanbekov, spoke about the initial results of this "shock therapy," digital transformations in the service, and the increase in its efficiency.
- Since July 1, 2025, the powers to enforce court decisions and decisions of state bodies were transferred to the General Prosecutor's Office. What was the reason for such a radical reorganization, and what changes have occurred in your work during this time?
- The situation required decisive action. On June 23, 2025, the President signed a decree that launched a large-scale reform, as the previous model within the Judicial Department had already exhausted itself. We faced numerous systemic problems: low enforcement discipline, lack of control, and slow inter-agency interaction.
The transition to the General Prosecutor's Office was not just a change of signage. It allowed us to create a strict vertical of management, thanks to which every bailiff feels the supervisory body behind them, which significantly increased discipline. In just a few months, fundamental changes occurred: we centralized functions, actively implemented digital technologies, and established direct coordination with other state bodies. Now we do not just ask but demand the enforcement of the law in the interests of citizens.
If we talk about numbers, the results are evident. In 2024, just over 633 million soms were collected for the budget, and in 2025 this amount increased to 1 billion 62 million. Comparing the second halves of the years, the dynamics are impressive: in 2024, there were 286.6 million, while in the same period of 2025, it was 743.1 million soms. This means that efficiency increased by 2.5 times!
The number of incoming documents also increased: in 2025, we received almost 496 thousand enforcement orders, which is 57% more than the previous year. And despite this increased workload, the percentage of actual enforcement rose from 63% to 86.5%. We stopped ignoring documents that could sit for months without registration; now every document is recorded.
- What interim results can you summarize now? Has the system become stricter or more efficient? Have you increased the staff?
- I would characterize the system as "healthy." It has become manageable and efficient. Thanks to prosecutorial oversight, the time taken to make decisions has significantly decreased. We have become more decisive in actions against debtors and are actively applying coercive measures. This is not "tightening" for the sake of tightening but normal work to protect the rights of those who have won in court.
As for the staff, we have not increased the number of employees. On the contrary, according to the decree, we received only "combat units" - bailiffs. There are only 500 positions in the country, of which 380 are bailiffs. Imagine: all this huge volume of work and billion-som collections are performed by fewer than 400 people!
The key to such success lies in close cooperation with the local prosecutor's office. In each of the 56 subdivisions, prosecutors carefully checked all pending cases and provided clear instructions. Of course, we had to conduct an internal cleanup - during this time, 270 bailiffs received disciplinary sanctions. We analyze the work of each employee. We conduct rotation: if in Sokuluk one bailiff has 500 cases a month, while in the mountains there are only 70, we will redistribute employees to where it is "burning." The workload must be fair.
- Will you use rotation? From south to north, from north to south?
- Absolutely. Rotation is a good anti-corruption mechanism that has been tested in the prosecutor's office. The only thing that slows down the process is living conditions. You cannot just take someone and send them to another region if there is no official housing or normal conditions there. Previously, no one thought about this, as the Judicial Department's base was weak. Now we are addressing this issue.
- On January 1, 2026, the law on the complete digitalization of court proceedings comes into force. Is the Bailiff Service ready to abandon paper documents and switch to electronic enforcement orders with digital signatures? Is this possible, and do you need it, or are paper documents more convenient?
- We are all for it! Working with paper documents in the 21st century is outdated practice. We are moving to digital technologies not only because it is trendy but also because it is vital. Our IT specialists from the State Institution "Ukuк" under the General Prosecutor's Office are developing the "Enforcement Proceedings 2.0" system. This will be a true revolution.
Understand, the system currently works slowly. To find a debtor's bank account, a bailiff has to manually send requests to all 22 banks in the country and wait for responses for months. Bureaucracy slows down the process. In the new system, everything will be different: one click, and we automatically receive data from banks, the Cadastre, the Social Fund, or the State Institution "Unaa." At that moment, we will be able to impose a lien. This will eliminate bureaucratic barriers and deprive debtors of the opportunity to quickly dispose of their property.
- Are electronic services provided for citizens?
- Certainly, we strive to be as open as possible. We launched a service with a QR code. This is very convenient: just point your smartphone, enter your TIN, and instantly see all your debts - amounts owed, travel restrictions, and contact details of the bailiff. The news about this on social media gathered many views, and people began to actively check themselves.
Imagine a situation: a person bought tickets, arrived at the airport with their family, and is not allowed to board due to a debt of a thousand soms. To avoid such unpleasant situations, we placed QR codes in airports, akimats, post offices, and even travel agencies. Now you can pay the debt online and immediately send the PDF receipt to the bailiff - the issue is resolved in 15-20 minutes. But we are not stopping there: soon a "pay" button will appear in the app so that everything happens in one step.
- Deputy Dastan Bekeshev proposed to tighten penalties for alimony non-payers. Will such measures help solve the problem, or are other mechanisms needed?
- Alimony is always a complex issue. Prisons alone will not suffice here. We understand that many do not pay not out of malice but due to lack of work or difficult life circumstances. But there are also those who simply evade. For such individuals, a short-term arrest for 3-7 days can be a good incentive. In Soviet times, 15 days of arrest did the trick, and the number of alimony debtors decreased significantly.
Currently, we have 60,000 cases related to alimony. 1,200 people are officially wanted. We propose to introduce arrest as an interim measure. A criminal record is a stigma not only for the father but also for the child, who later may not be able to get a government job due to the parent's conviction. And 3-5 days in a special detention center is an opportunity to reflect on one's responsibilities without ruining the child's future. Our goal is not to punish a person but to ensure financial support for children.
- What debts can become obstacles at the border? Is there a threshold amount for restrictions?
- Restrictions can be imposed for any debt: alimony, unpaid fines, or damages. The law does not establish a "minimum threshold," so even a small amount can become a problem. The exception concerns businesses: for taxes, restrictions apply if the debt exceeds 500 calculated indicators. In other cases, it is better to check yourself in advance through our service.
- Are there legal ways to defer or installment execution of decisions, and how can this be arranged?
- We operate within the law, not as collectors. If a person is in a difficult financial situation, they can submit an application for an installment plan. But this is decided by the court, not the bailiff. According to Article 209 of the Civil Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, an application must be submitted to the court that issued the enforcement order. If the court finds the reasons valid, it will grant a deferment or change the payment method. We are obliged to follow such a decision.
- The work of a bailiff is associated with finances and pressure from the parties. How does the General Prosecutor's Office control the integrity of the service's ranks, and what checks are conducted?
- Yes, temptations and pressure are present in our work. Therefore, "cleanliness of ranks" is a key issue for successful reform. Now we are monitored by the Internal Investigations Service of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Kyrgyz Republic. Monthly meetings are held where each employee acknowledges being aware of the consequences of corruption.
Control has become multi-level: from analyzing citizens' complaints to electronic monitoring. Every action of a bailiff is recorded in the system. If we notice suspicious activity or receive a signal, an internal investigation is immediately initiated. We do not cover for our employees; if someone tarnishes the honor of the uniform, the materials are immediately sent for prosecution. Only in this way can we restore citizens' trust.
- We are used to seeing service employees mainly during property confiscations. What other duties do you have that society knows less about (for example, searching for debtors, working with non-property claims)?
- Evictions and confiscations are just part of our work that journalists love to cover. In reality, our activities are much broader and often more dramatic. We are involved not only in searching for property but also for people, as well as children that one parent hides from the other. We deal with job reinstatement, demolition of illegal constructions, and ensuring the enforcement of court orders that do not involve finances. This is a huge area of important work aimed at restoring justice.
- The president's decree spoke about the development of the institution of private bailiffs. When will they appear in Kyrgyzstan, and how will powers be distributed?
- This is a relevant question. The president has tasked us with implementing this institution, and the corresponding draft law is already in the Jogorku Kenesh. For the country, this will be a new "hybrid" model. Private bailiffs will take on part of the workload, allowing us to focus on more important or state matters. Powers will be clearly delineated; we will likely start with a pilot project in certain regions.
- What are the plans for working with debtors hiding abroad? Are new agreements on mutual enforcement of decisions expected?
- This is our "sore spot," which we are actively working on. Previously, our powers ended at the border. Now we have developed a law that will give us the right to declare international wanted status for debtors and their assets. We have joined the International Union of Bailiffs, which unites 90 countries. A memorandum has been signed, and by March 2026, when our new legislation comes into effect, we will begin actively working with assets abroad. It will no longer be possible to hide abroad.
- How can young people get a job with you? What education is required, and is there a competition?
- We need competent and ambitious lawyers. The requirements are clear: a law degree and work experience. Selection is conducted through strict computer tests at the State Personnel Service. Those who pass the test come to us for an interview. We are looking for people ready to change the system. We already have 30 excellent candidates in reserve, so competition is high, which is encouraging. All vacancies are always published on our website, so come and try your luck.
