Date of publication:
01/08/2026
Kyrgyzstan
Do domestic laws and policies protect forcibly displaced and stateless persons from discrimination on any grounds?
Assessment by population
Analysis
The Kyrgyz Republic guarantees the protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons located on its territory or under its jurisdiction. The principles of non-discrimination are enshrined in the Constitution and apply to everyone without exception. No one may be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, language, disability, ethnicity, religion, age, political or other beliefs, education, origin, property or other status, or other circumstances (Article 24).
Foreign citizens and stateless persons located in the Kyrgyz Republic enjoy the rights and bear the same obligations as its citizens, except in cases stipulated by national legislation or international treaties to which the Republic is a party (Article 52).
However, the country does not have a specialized legal framework that would provide effective mechanisms for protection against discrimination for stateless persons and forcibly displaced persons. The general principle of prohibition of discrimination is enshrined in the Constitution.
Moreover, the legislation does not contain a definition of the term "forcibly displaced persons". Instead, the Law on Internal Migration of July 30, 2002, No. 133, provides for the term "forced migrant". This is a citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic who was forced to leave his place of residence and move to another location within the country due to circumstances that pose a threat to his life, health or safety. Such circumstances include armed conflicts, mass riots, natural disasters, a sharp deterioration of the environment, environmental and man-made disasters, as well as other accidents and disasters caused by human activity. The regulation of internal migration processes in the Kyrgyz Republic is carried out on the basis of principles that include the inadmissibility of discrimination on the basis of origin, gender, race, nationality, language, religion, political and religious beliefs, as well as other conditions and circumstances of a personal or public nature. The legislation also provides for the creation of conditions necessary for the integration of forced migrants in a new place of residence or stay, ensuring their rights and freedoms. Thus, the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic is aimed at protecting the rights of all categories of the population, including foreign citizens, stateless persons and internal migrants, including this prohibition in the fundamental law - the Constitution, but there are no specialized legal mechanisms protecting stateless persons and forced migrants from any kind of discrimination.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
The Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic
- Year: 2021
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2021/en/17474?prevDestination=search&prevPath=/search?keywords=Constitution+of+the+Kyrgyz+Republic&sort=score&order=desc&result=result-17474-en
Legal provision
Article 24 - Non discrimination
1. The Kyrgyz Republic shall ensure the protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons within its territory and under its jurisdiction. No one shall be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, language, disability, ethnicity, religion, age, political or other beliefs, education, origin, property or other status, or other circumstances. Persons who have committed discrimination shall be held accountable in accordance with the law. Special measures established by law and aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for various social groups in accordance with international obligations shall not constitute discrimination. 2. In the Kyrgyz Republic, everyone is equal before the law and the court. 3. In the Kyrgyz Republic, men and women have equal rights and freedoms and equal opportunities for their realization.