Deputy Head of the President's Office Almaz Raimbekov noted that the main goal of this draft law is to simplify the process of obtaining a civil passport for citizens of Kyrgyzstan under the age of 16.
According to current legislation, both parents' consent is required to issue a passport, which often creates difficulties. One parent may be abroad or refuse to communicate, leading to the necessity of going to court for permission, as the official pointed out.
The proposed government amendment will allow one parent to submit an application for a child's passport without the consent of the other parent.
However, as Almaz Raimbekov emphasized, this rule only applies to obtaining a passport. Consent from both parents will still be required for the child to travel abroad.
It is important to note that this innovation will not apply to underage Kyrgyz citizens who are outside the country; for them, consent from both parents is also necessary to obtain a passport.
In response to questions from deputies, the Deputy Head of the President's Office explained that the decision to keep the existing rule in place was made in the interest of safety, as issuing a passport based on one parent's application while the child is abroad could lead to legal disputes.
As a result of the discussion, the committee members unanimously supported the draft law in the first reading.
