On June 22, 2018, the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the USAID Collaborative Governance Program, implemented by the East-West Management Institute, will inaugurate two Free Legal Aid Centers (FLACs) in Issyk-Kul Oblast. The opening of Free Legal Aid Centers in Cholpon-Ata will take place at 10 a.m. at Cholpon-Ata Rayon Administration located at 1 Sovetskaya Str. and at 2 p.m. in Balykchi at Balykchi Territorial Unit of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development at 3 Orozbaeva Str.
Participants in the inauguration ceremonies will include the Director of the Center for Coordination of State-Guaranteed Legal Aid under the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akzhol Kalbekov, the Director of the USAID Collaborative Governance Program, Garry Ledbetter, the Regional Director of Legal Programs of the East-West Management Institute, Nicolas Mansfield, the Head of the Issyk-Kul Rayon Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Daniyar Imanaliev, the Mayor of Balykchi city, Almaz Mambetov, Issyk-Kul oblast court representatives, local self-government bodies, civil society organizations and media.
In accordance with the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and the “Law on State Guaranteed Legal Aid”, Free Legal Aid Centers provide equal access to legal aid for citizens and increase the level of legal protection for vulnerable populations. In such centers, visitors consult with a lawyer, public notary officer, or defense attorney, who are all included in the system of state guaranteed legal aid. Currently, 22 Free Legal Aid Centers operate in Chui, Osh, Talas, Jalal-Abad, Batken, Naryn and Issyk-Kul Oblasts and in Bishkek.
The USAID Collaborative Governance Program is assisting the Ministry of Justice in its initiative to improve access to legal aid and previously supported the opening of six Free Legal Aid Centers in Isfana and Kadamjay in Batken Oblast, Jalal-Abad city and Bazar-Korgon village in Jalal-Abad Oblast, and Naryn city and Kochkor village in Naryn Oblast. The USAID Collaborative Governance Program also provides assistance to strengthen the existing Free Legal Aid Centers to improve the quality of the services provided by these centers.
More detailed information on the work of the Free Legal Aid Centers and their contact information can be obtained in the territorial units of the Ministry of Justice, and on its online map of legal services at: http://legalmap.gov.kg/ru/ and/or www.minjust.gov.kg.
The Collaborative Governance Program (CGP) promotes effective collaboration between civil society, the private sector, and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by the East-West Management Institute (EWMI).