Kyrgyzstan: Whether Kyrgyzstan issues international passports to men who have been conscripted for military service
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 21 December 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KGT43245.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kyrgyzstan: Whether Kyrgyzstan issues international passports to men who have been conscripted for military service, 21 December 2004, KGT43245.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/42df611d2.html [accessed 20 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A representative of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR) stated that a conscripted soldier in Kyrgyzstan is not issued an international passport. This information could not be corroborated among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information might be useful.
A 24 July 2000 United Nations Human Rights Committee report examined the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan in relation to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
The Committee takes note that conscientious objection to military service is allowed only for members of a registered religious organization whose teachings prohibit the use of arms. The Committee regrets that the State party has not sought to justify why the provision on alternative service entails a period of service twice as long as that required of military conscripts, and why persons of higher education serve for a considerably lesser period in the military as well as in alternative service (arts. 18, 26).
Conscientious objection should be provided for in law in a manner that is consistent with articles 18 and 26 of the Covenant, bearing in mind that article 18 also protects freedom of conscience of non-believers. The State party should fix the periods of military service and alternative service on a non-discriminatory basis.
The United States Bureau of Consular Affairs gives more information on the kinds of passports issued by the Kyrgyz government:
There are three types of Kyrgyz travel passports: Diplomatic (Diplomaticheskiy), Official (Sluzhebny), and Regular (Vid Na Zhitel'stov). The first two types are always issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The regular passports are occasionally issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but are usually issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs Office of Visa Registration (OVIR). OVIR offices can be found in regional capitals throughout Kyrgyzstan (27 Oct. 2003).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR). 18 December 2004. Correspondence from a representative.
United Nations (UN). 24 July 2000. Human Rights Committee. (CCPR/CO/69/KGZ). Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, Kyrgyzstan.
United States. 27 October 2003. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder. "Kyrgyzstan."
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Two oral sources consulted did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response (The Kyrgyzstan Consulate in Washington and the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan)
Internet sources, including: Amnesty International, Center for Defense Information, Embassy of Canada in Kazakhstan, Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States of America and Canada, Embassy of the United States in Kyrgyzstan, Eurasianet.org, Government of the House of Kyrgyz Republic, Internews.kg, The Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights (KCHR), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Soros Foundation-Kyrgystan.
