Orozbek Sydykov, Deputy Minister of Justice, reported at a meeting of the committee on constitutional legislation that legal representatives will have the right to represent the interests of citizens in civil and administrative courts by proxy, alongside lawyers.
The amendments will also affect the Civil, Administrative, Criminal Procedural Codes, and the Code on Offenses, which will specify that legal representatives can participate in court proceedings.
The registry of legal representatives will be open to any capable citizens who meet certain requirements:
- having a higher legal education;
- at least two years of work experience in a legal specialty;
- completion of a certification course at the training center for lawyers under the Bar Association of the Kyrgyz Republic.
“Current legislation states that any adult can act as a representative in court, and this can even be an electrician. We receive numerous complaints about those who are unable to provide assistance in legal proceedings. Citizens must have access to qualified legal assistance. If someone wants to represent themselves in court, that is their right. But if assistance is needed, they can entrust their interests to a legal representative. The decision on whether to provide paid or pro bono assistance remains with the parties,” noted the Deputy Minister.
Deputy Kubanychbek Samakov expressed disagreement with the bill, stating that such an initiative could, on the contrary, complicate access to legal assistance.
Earlier, Dastan Bekeshev, a deputy, pointed out that the adoption of this bill could lead to an increase in the cost of legal services.
As a result of the discussions, the parliamentarians voted to approve the draft law.
