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Between January 1 and November 12 this year, Russia transferred 295 Kyrgyz citizens convicted in the Russian Federation back to Kyrgyzstan to serve out their sentences. This data was released by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Central Asian republic, according to 24.kg.
The supervisory agency clarified that transfer procedures have been finalized for another 65 Kyrgyz nationals, who are currently awaiting transport home. The lengthy timeline is due to each case being reviewed individually in accordance with Russian law, international treaties, and the specifics of each criminal case.
At the same time, Russia has denied repatriation requests for 52 convicted Kyrgyz nationals since the beginning of 2026. Of those, 21 were convicted of sexual offenses, seven of terrorism-related crimes, and 24 of other offenses, including murder and kidnapping.
The Prosecutor General's Office emphasized that serving sentences in their home country holds humanitarian value, allowing convicts to maintain family ties and prepare for reintegration into society.
To strengthen cooperation with Russian authorities, Kyrgyzstan plans to open a representative office of its Prosecutor General's Office in Russia in the near future. The agency will protect the rights and legal interests of Kyrgyz citizens, focusing specifically on those held in correctional facilities, particularly by helping them return home to complete their terms.
Overall, according to the Central Asian country's supervisory agency, the number of prisoners repatriated has steadily grown in recent years. Russia transferred 66 convicts in 2022, 79 in 2023, 128 in 2024, and 237 last year.
Meanwhile, more than 1,100 Kyrgyz citizens are currently serving sentences in Russian prisons.
The push to transfer foreign nationals from Russia back to their home countries has grown increasingly urgent amid an active recruitment campaign by Russian officials targeting inmates for military service. In exchange for joining the armed forces fighting in Ukraine, prisoners are offered pardons, cleared criminal records, and expedited Russian citizenship.
In October, Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs acknowledged instances where Kyrgyz nationals in Russia were coerced into joining the war against Ukraine, noting that migrants with legal troubles face the highest risk.
