In the deputy's opinion, it is necessary to expand this initiative to also allow travel abroad without the consent of the other parent.
“The bill should be supported, but we shouldn't stop there. A child gets a passport but cannot travel with it. Some parents, who do not participate in the child's life, manipulate by threatening not to give consent for travel. I know of a case: our citizen living in Europe has not been able to return to Kyrgyzstan for seven years because her ex-husband is blackmailing her, threatening to withhold consent if she does not buy him a house or give him money,” Bekeshev said.
He suggested amending the legislation to allow one parent to take the child abroad if the other parent is not involved in the child's life and is not paying alimony.
Deputy Head of the President's Office Almaz Raimbekov noted that officials are receiving requests from citizens with similar pleas.
“We are analyzing the situation from different angles, as various difficulties may arise. In cooperation with the ministries, we are discussing possible amendments. This is a complex issue, as it concerns family matters and requires a delicate approach. We are also studying the experience of other countries,” he added.
It should be noted that according to current legislation, both parents' consent is required to issue a passport for children. The Cabinet of Ministers proposes to simplify the process by allowing one parent to apply for a passport for the child. However, this provision will only apply when applying in Kyrgyzstan; when submitting applications at embassies abroad, the consent of both parents will still need to be provided.
