Today, the Free Legal Aid Center (FLA) of the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic opened in Kaindy city, Chui province with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme. The FLA center is located at: 7 Sadovoy Lane, Kainda city (building of the Panfilov Pedagogical department of the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic) No. 7 (building of Panfilov Rayon State Administration, 2nd floor).

Free legal aid is provided in the form of legal consulting and consultations on questions and assistance in drafting documents. The main objectives are to provide free legal advice, legal education, legal information, increase the level of legal protection of vulnerable groups, ensure access to justice, assist in the realization of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens, ensure the rights of certain categories of citizens to state-guaranteed legal aid.

Sydykov Orozbek, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic noted: "In the FLA center which opened today, primary legal aid will be provided in accordance with the law. State notary, qualified specialists, lawyers, irrespective of their social status and wealth or citizenship will provide assistance according to the schedule approved by the territorial department of justice. Applicants receive legal advice on all areas of law, as well as advice on filing complaints and appeals. The aim of the centres is to increase legal literacy and to provide the population, even in the most remote areas, with free legal aid guaranteed by the constitution.”

Between 2015 and 2021, 17 FLA centers opened across the country with UNDP support. A total of 33 such centers are now operational across Kyrgyzstan, equipped with all the necessary facilities to provide citizens with state-guaranteed legal aid. Consultations are provided by qualified lawyers and advocates according to a set schedule.

"Most of the vulnerable groups live in the regions of the country and have limited access to legal services. Our project actively developed access to justice and legal literacy among the residents of the two pilot provinces, Chui and Osh. The 17 centers help protect the violated rights of citizens, provide access to legal information and help ensure the rights of certain categories of citizens to state-guaranteed legal assistance.

Today, the draft of the new version of the law on State-Guaranteed Legal Aid (SGLA) was adopted by the Parliament in the first reading and will soon be approved and come into force. According to the new version of the law, the FLAs will become part of the CC of the SGLA as its structural subdivisions, and the employees of the centers will be paid from the state budget. Qualitative implementation of this law will ensure access to legal services for all citizens in need of such assistance in the country, and therefore increase their confidence in the state, help solve legal problems and improve quality of life." said Erkinbek Kasybekov, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The FLA centers were launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Nations Development Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic under the Towards Sustainable Access to Justice for Legal Empowerment in the Kyrgyz Republic' project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

About the project:

 Through the project, thousands of people learned about their rights, including through the services of the Solidarity Bus, an initiative that has increased access to legal information in rural areas and has been presented in a number of international justice forums as an example of innovative and effective action.

 The state-funded legal aid system was established with the passage of the new State Guaranteed Legal Aid Act and the subsequent passage of important by-laws and regulations at the end of 2016.

Link to photo album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWNErTv