Protection on Paper: Why Restraining Orders Don't Save Victims of Domestic Violence
According to information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 19,995 cases of domestic violence were registered in the first 11 months of 2025, which is 27.5% more than in the same period of 2024.
Within these cases, 519 criminal cases were initiated, of which 328 were sent to court. Among the crimes are 31 murders, 35 cases of serious bodily harm, 28 instances of torture, and the same number of rapes.
However, these figures may not reflect the real situation, as many victims do not report to law enforcement, as noted by human rights defenders.
Support on Paper
In 2025, law enforcement agencies issued 15,821 protection orders to individuals who committed domestic violence, of which 94% were men. 14,587 women who became victims received temporary protection orders, as well as 820 men and 414 minors.
Despite the large number of protection orders issued, their existence does not always guarantee protection from repeated violence by partners. Just before the New Year holidays, another woman in Kyrgyzstan became a victim of her ex-husband, who shot her six times. The murder occurred on December 23, when the couple had just divorced. The woman's relatives report that she decided to divorce due to constant violence.
Read more on the topic
The high-profile murder of a woman in Bishkek: police officers detained for inaction
As it became known during the investigation, the deceased had a protection order marked "High level of threat." The district inspector responsible for her safety ignored the victim's appeals and did not take the necessary measures. After her death, he attempted to cover up his inaction by forging inspection reports.
According to the legislation, a protection order imposes a number of restrictions on the aggressor:
- prohibition on any contact with the victim;
- prohibition on being in the shared residence;
- prohibition on seeking out the victim through third parties;
- prohibition on possessing firearms.
Additionally, the aggressor is required to undergo a behavior correction program. However, recent events have confirmed that protection orders are not always effective in combating domestic violence.
Children Also Suffer
Statistics from the Ministry of Internal Affairs show that significantly fewer protection orders are issued to children than to women, but this does not mean that they do not suffer from domestic violence. Deputy Gulsharkan Kultaeva noted that protection orders are usually issued only to women, while in reality, violence affects all family members.
The case of Aizhamal Janibekova, who divorced her husband six years ago, illustrates how children suffer. When she went abroad, she lost contact with her children for 10 months due to the actions of her ex-husband.
Read more on the topic
UN: Every day, 137 women and girls are killed by their partners or relatives
“I left my husband because he was violent, despite the protection orders. When I decided to leave, my children were small. Since then, I have been raising them alone. After I left, my ex-husband took the children from school and kindergarten. I reported to the police, but no help was provided,” Aizhamal recounts.
Only after 10 months, in April 2025, Aizhamal returned to Kyrgyzstan and was able to see her children after a court hearing. She learned that the children had been subjected to physical violence by their father.
“I immediately reported to the Department of Internal Affairs, but the process of obtaining a protection order was complicated. I spent six hours waiting, and I was issued an order only for myself, not for the children,” the woman shares.
Despite filing a complaint to hold her ex-husband criminally accountable, the police refused her. After several appeals, a case was opened, but soon it was halted again.
Read more on the topic
“The devil commanded,” or the case of Aizirek Topchubaeva, which “died” in the police
“This has been going on for 10 months, and I see no action. I went through court hearings, and ultimately I managed to have his parental rights revoked, which allowed me to take the children away,” Aizhamal says.
Despite this, she expresses concern for the safety of her children, as her ex-husband continues to be nearby. “There was a protection order, but no one knew how to handle it. My ex-husband says it’s just a piece of paper,” she adds.
Aizhamal believes that protection orders do not provide adequate protection for either her or her children. If aggressors do not face real consequences for violating the terms of the order, it remains merely a formality.
The Need for Reforms
Despite the issuance of more than 15,000 protection orders, the number of protocols under the article "Domestic Violence" is only 5,056, and the number of court decisions is even lower: 1,733 people were sentenced to community service, and 2,364 were arrested.
Former ombudsman Atyr Abdrakhmatova emphasizes the need to improve control over the enforcement of protection orders and the handling of protocols. She notes that the lack of legal consequences from obtaining a protection order makes it practically useless.
“Concrete actions are needed after compiling protocols on offenses; otherwise, the protection order remains just a document that does not confirm the fact of violence,” she concludes.
Atyr Abdrakhmatova adds that it is necessary to implement digital solutions for tracking protection orders and responding to reports of violence. This will allow for prompt responses to cases of domestic violence and prevent tragedies.
Every instance of even minor violence can lead to serious consequences if timely measures are not taken against the aggressor.
Related materials:
