Consequences for women of Kyrgyzstan who had served sentence prove to be dramatic. Almost in all cases, they have to face misunderstanding, distrust and stigmatisation from others.
Kyrgyzstan has one women’s penal colony No. 2 located in the village of Stepnoye, Alamudun district, Chui region. By November 2023, there were 183 sentenced women there. Most of them have been sentenced for theft, robbery, plundering, and fraud.
Despite the relatively small number of female prisoners in Kyrgyzstan, social consequences of their imprisonment prove to be dramatic, while prison terms have far-reaching consequences.
Nina Frolova (not her real name) was released this year. Previously, the woman had spent six years in prison for distribution of narcotics.
“I was a drug user. And we help each other sometimes in our environment because we know it’s the disease. That’s why I was imprisoned not for drug abuse, but for the distribution,” she said.
While Nina was in prison, her mother sold the apartment in Bishkek and moved to Russia.
“So, she did not care what would happen to me, where I would live. And right before the release, I had felt panic as I did not have a place to go,” Frolova said. “I had a domestic partner, but I did not want to get back to him. He was an alcohol abuser, and when he is drunk, he becomes aggressive and starts a fight. I don’t want to get through this hell again.”
The release from prison, especially after a long term, is like relocation to a new country. People have to set up their life, apply for documents, get used to prices, learn to manage cash funds, see into bureaucratic procedures, as well as build up their identity again. Almost every time they have to face misunderstanding and distrust from others.
During imprisonment, Nina acquired many health problems, namely, lung problems. And when she was left homeless and unregistered, she could not go to a policlinic. Not to speak of private hospitals, where treatment is very expensive, while she did not have money after the release.
“Now I work as a cleaner at an enterprise. My job is difficult and low-paid,” Nina said. “However, I have an opportunity to save up some money, to hire an apartment or a house, or a room, and begin a new life.”
According to Marina Atabekova, a peer consultant of public foundation ‘Asteria’ helping former prisoners, the problems faced by Nina, namely employment and weak health, are the most widespread problems among released women.
“The imprisonment has drastic consequences not only on the woman’s social status in the society, but also on mental and physical condition,” Marina said. “It’s like a mark for a lifetime.”
According to Baktygul Israilova, head of ‘Asteria’ foundation and ‘Network of women living with HIV’, all citizens are equal before law and have rights and obligations guaranteed by the Constitution. However, a priori, the burden of responsibility and conviction is higher in women than in men.
According to experts, public support is important. According to them, rehabilitation programmes and integration attempts are needed to help women return successfully to the society.
What does the state have to offer?
According to the Penal Service, there is the vocational school No. 6 that has been functioning since 1971. It offers five specialties: tailor, baker, pastry cook, electrician, and hairdresser.
“After graduation, our graduates receive relevant certificates. Thus, we issued 152 professional certificates to the inmates from 2022 to 2023,” said Yzat Turgunbaeva, inspector of the public and media relations department of the Penal Service.
Besides, according to her, the women’s colony has a functioning garment manufacture and a bakery. 50 inmates work in the sewing room, 9 in the bakery, and 39 perform fatigue duties. Also, the colony No. 2 has rehabilitation centres ‘Atlantis’ and ‘Centre for Rehabilitation and Social Adaptation’ (CRSA) for the treatment of drug and alcohol abusers. Women undergo treatment there and may be transferred to the CRSA until the end of their prison term.
According to Yzat Turgunbaeva, job fairs are held jointly with local offices of labour, migration and social development to support re-socialisation of the inmates. It gives the inmates the opportunity to find a job after release.
“Moreover, women released on parole by court decision may be referred to probation authorities of the Ministry of Justice for support and re-socialisation,” Turgunbaeva said.
Probation is an alternative to incarceration, which has been available in Kyrgyzstan since 2019. An inmate is placed under supervision of probation authorities and must meet particular conditions: for example, find a job, undergo treatment or training.
Deputy Director of the Probation Department Daniyar Moldokul uulu said to CABAR.asia that every year the agency signs memorandums with various organisations and educational institutions to meet the conditions. As to the courses, where clients can acquire professional skills, the department has a formal agreement with the Skills Development Fund of the ministry of labour.
“Probation authorities provide assistance to recover lost documents, grant social relief, etc.,” deputy director said.
However, human rights activists doubt the quality of services provided by the probation agencies. According to Marina Atabekova, peer consultant of ‘Asteria’, the system of social support for persons to be released from colonies is poorly organised, and does not have the sufficient level of supervision. In general, according to the experts, state support is not enough.
“State and non-governmental institutions that provide temporary accommodation services often do not accept female ex-prisoners. Often, they are unadjusted to working with them. Currently, ‘Asteria’ is the only crisis centre in Kyrgyzstan that can provide temporary accommodation to women from key groups,” Atabekova said.
However, it can cease soon due to the law on foreign agents initiated at the parliament and passed at the first reading.
“Treated as a serious crime”
In May 2023, a group of MPs headed by Nadira Narmatova, suggested amendments to the law on non-profit organisations and the Criminal Code. They specified that local non-profit organisations that receive money and other assets from other states, international and foreign organisations would be treated as “a non-profit organisation acting as a foreign representative.”
They will have to undergo regular (no more than once a year) and unscheduled inspections, otherwise, up to 10 years of imprisonment may follow for the breach of the law. This sentence applies to serious crimes. Local and international human rights organisations have urged the Kyrgyz legislators to revoke the document. However, all commentaries and calls have been ignored.
Many non-profit organisations and public foundations in Kyrgyzstan are committed to provide help to vulnerable and key groups of people, and also help women to adapt to life after incarceration. Most of such organisations exist due to donor funds. Adoption of this law will cause great damage to such non-profit organisations and the life quality of people who received help from them, respectively.
According to Cholpon Omurkanova, director of public foundation ‘Egl’, the foundation has been working together with the Penal Service for many years.
In turn, Baktygul Israilova, head of the ‘Network of Women Living with HIV’, said that if the law is passed, organisations would close and women would have nowhere to go. State bodies, according to her, can do nothing about it.
Victims of the system
Zamira Asanova (not her real name) was incarcerated for thefts and hooliganism. While she was in prison, she had a fight with the colony employees, and her prison term was increased. Thus, Zamira has spent a total of 12 years in prison.
Asanova said about her childhood that her mother used to be a frequent drinker, while she has never seen her father.
“My mother was brought to me to the colony, but I didn’t want to see her,” Zamira said. “She has ruined my life. When I was six years old, my mother and her friends wanted to cool the coppers, and virtually sold me to some men for that. That’s why I disrespect her and I don’t want to live with her.”
After the release, she came back to the home village and started to help one old woman to save some money and recover the documents.
“But later on, the old woman blamed me for stealing her money,” Asanova said. “Afterwards, I was sent to a mental home. I escaped from it and came to ‘Asteria’.”
Now she lives on her own and works as a nurse’s aide at one of the hospitals.
According to experts, women often commit crimes because of economic and social issues. Contributing factors are mainly vulnerable family, poverty, drug abuse, early pregnancy, low level of education, or insufficient support from the community.
In turn, Cholpon Omurkanova, director of public foundation ‘Egl’, said that women also commit crimes because of domestic abuse – by a husband, domestic partner, or relatives.
“There have been many cases when women have long suffered beatings, humiliations. Therefore, they have to go to the extremities and use excessive force in self-defence in an attempt to defend themselves,” Omurkanova said. “Afterwards, they are called criminals, and given many labels. Few people understand that they are the victims.”
According to Dastan Mambetaliev, programme expert of ‘Asteria’, women often become victims of the system, which cannot provide them with necessary support and opportunities.
“I mean, they can commit a crime in an attempt to defend themselves, their children or to solve some financial issues. However, afterwards they face public rejection and stigmatisation. It is a vicious circle with almost no way out,” the specialist said.
Solution of similar problems, according to him, requires a comprehensive approach, including provision of access to social services, support during employment, rehabilitation and revision of social stereotypes related to women who have broken the law.
“It is necessary to consider the reform of the criminal system with an emphasis on rehabilitation and prevention of repetition of crimes, not just on punishment,” Mambetaliev said. “We need to develop programmes to facilitate the process of employment of former prisoners, including assistance to employers, and provision of support in acquisition of skills.”
Also, according to him, ex-inmates should have access to psychological support, as many of them can face psychological difficulties.