Situation
According to Aizhamal, she was married to A. M. and six years ago, after yet another act of violence, she decided to leave him, taking her two children with her."That night I grabbed the kids and ran away, realizing that if we stayed, it would be too late," she recalls.“We were married for a short time. At the time of the divorce, our son was only three years old. The main reason for the separation was the violence, both physical and psychological, from my husband. After another beating, I moved to Bishkek. After 3-4 months, A. M. returned, asked for forgiveness, and promised that it would not happen again. We got back together, but he did not work and stayed at home, which forced me to look for a job, even though I had a small daughter. He supported this, but soon began to show aggression due to my business trips and communication with male colleagues. The most terrible situation occurred when he beat me and threatened me with a knife. I managed to escape to my aunt. Later, he attacked me again on the street and tried to put me in a car. After that, we finally separated,” Aizhamal said.
Her ex-husband did not participate in raising the children, showed no desire to see them, and at the court hearing stated that the children should stay with their mother.
“I was forced to leave the children with their father, as otherwise I would have to return the entire amount received for the grant, which is impossible. I hoped that A. M. would give permission for me to take the children. But when I went abroad for my studies, he forcibly took the children from their grandfather and deprived me of any contact with them, filing a lawsuit to determine the children's residence with him,” the woman added.
As soon as she had the opportunity, she returned to try to see the children.
“He took them to a psychologist at the court's request, and it was there that I met them. In the presence of the specialist, my ex-husband, apparently to appear good, said: 'Let the children be with you while you are here.' We returned home, and although the children calmed down a bit, I noticed that they were very tense,” Aizhamal noted.
“When my daughter calmed down, she started crying and told me that dad beats her with a belt on her legs and bottom if she doesn’t get up in the mornings. She said: 'He threatens me that if I don’t get up, he will beat me.' When I asked about food, she replied: 'I eat enough at kindergarten, and my brother only eats once at school. At home, we only have cereal and eggs.' The girl continued to talk. She was scared and said: 'He said not to tell anyone about his bad deeds because he is always nice to others, and no one will believe me.' I was in shock but tried to stay calm. She also added that they are scolded and forced to wash the floors early in the morning on weekends. Their father said that only he raises them and they must obey him. She also mentioned that he threw away my toys and things. Unlike her, my son became withdrawn and confirmed that their father beat them,” she recounted.
The next day, Aizhamal contacted the police.
“I filed a report, informing them about the abuse by their father. However, the investigator did not want to take the case, claiming that there were no signs of beatings. I asked: 'What, should I wait for bruises?' I was told: 'First, they argue, then they make up, and the investigator closes the case.' Does this mean that the police will not protect, and another man should protect? Since then, there has been no movement on the case. A. M.'s father is a former police officer, and I suspect this helps him 'settle' the situation. Only thanks to the prosecutor's office, where my lawyer submitted several petitions, the case is still with the police,” Aizhamal reported.
Results of the Psychological Examination
According to the examination results, both children show signs of psycho-emotional trauma caused by violence, emotional neglect, and intimidation by their father.The children experience significant feelings of fear and depression when recalling life with their father, while being with their mother is perceived as safe and supportive, evoking positive emotions (from the psychologist's conclusion).“The children's words confirm that the father regularly used physical punishment, insults, and threats, as well as exerted psychological pressure to hide what was happening from others and specialists. Considering their age, the consistency and logic of their stories allow us to conclude the credibility of their words. Despite their fear of their father, both children expressed a desire to live with their mother, who provides them with a safe environment at all meetings,” the examination conclusion states.
Violations Continue
Aizhamal noted that the decision to deprive her ex-husband of parental rights was made based on the examination conclusion, but the investigators of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the October District of Bishkek do not take it into account.“The court recognized that the father abused his rights and was cruel to the children, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Family Code of Kyrgyzstan, placing the interests of the children first. However, despite this, law enforcement agencies refuse to initiate a criminal case regarding the violence. The official document from the investigative service states: 'The assessment of the testimony of minors raises doubts, and additional expertise is required for an objective consideration of the case.' The court took into account all the children's testimonies and documents, but the police did not,” she emphasized.
Police Opinion
The Internal Affairs Directorate of the October District of Bishkek confirmed to Kaktus.media that Aizhamal submitted a written statement requesting measures against A. M. for violence against the children.This fact has been registered in the AIS JUI, and a preliminary investigation has been initiated.A. M. filed a petition for a psychological and psychiatric examination, which has been appointed. Based on its results, a corresponding legal assessment will be provided, the police reported.
However, when asked why a new examination is required and why no measures were taken regarding the statement filed in April 2025, the Internal Affairs Directorate did not respond.
