Kyrgyz Drug Control and Prison Services Sign Cooperation Agreement

Bishkek. December 2012. Illicit drug trafficking constitutes a serious threat to the health and prosperity of the population of the Kyrgyz Republic. On the basis of mutual interest in the adoption of more effective measures to tackle these challenges, the State Drug Control Service and Prison Service of the Kyrgyz Republic signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening interagency co-operation.

Cooperation between the two state services aims at combating illicit trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances, strengthening precursor control, and drug prevention in the penitentiary system of the Kyrgyz Republic.

In November 2012, with the assistance of the project 'Support to Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic', an interagency working group was established to develop a memorandum of understanding. The working group, which consisted of representatives from the legal and international affairs departments of both services, prepared the memorandum for signature.

- The Memorandum of Understanding is a basis for further improvement of the interagency cooperation to combat illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and precursors control in the penitentiary system, - noted Mr. Zarylbek Rysaliev, Chairperson of the Prison Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

- Within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding, the State Drug Control Service will organize activities aimed at strengthening the professional capacity of the prison staff - said Mr. Alimbay Sultanov, Chairperson of the State Drug Control Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The project 'Support to Prison Reform in the Kyrgyz Republic' aims at strengthening the rule of law in the Kyrgyz Republic, by further improving the penitentiary system at legislative, policy and management levels. This project is funded by the European Union, Government of the United States of America and Government of Sweden and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.