Key forms of violence in educational institutions have been identified in Kyrgyzstan, as reported by Cholpon Akmatova, a representative of the research group focused on child protection issues.
According to her, racketeering, or extortion, is a leading form of school violence. This type of violence manifests through the dominance of groups of older or stronger students who demand "tribute" from younger and weaker ones, including money, food, and valuables.
“Racketeering is considered a criminal offense under the extortion article of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic and falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, due to the hidden nature of this phenomenon and fear among children, information reaches law enforcement only in cases of serious injuries,” she emphasized.
- verbal aggression — including insults and name-calling;
- social isolation — expressed through boycotts and gossip;
- property damage — intentional damage or destruction of the victim's belongings;
- physical violence — beatings and shoving.
According to Akmatova, aggressors often create fake accounts, form humiliating groups on social media, hack accounts, threaten online, and spread compromising photos or rumors that quickly circulate throughout the educational institution and beyond.
Moreover, she emphasized violence related to gender stereotypes, which manifests in the form of sexualized comments, unwanted touching, and harassment, both from peers and staff. In this context, girls and adolescents who do not conform to accepted gender norms experience particular vulnerability.
