Kyrgyzstan Woman Pleads for Husband's Release from Year-Long Alimony Sentence

A resident of Kyrgyzstan's Toktogul district has appealed to local authorities for the release of her husband, who was sentenced to one year in prison for failing to pay alimony. Nurzat Tursunbekova approached the presidential representative in the Jalal-Abad region, Tilek Tekebaev, during a public meeting.

Tursunbekova stated that she and her husband have three children together, and he has five more from a previous marriage. "My husband was imprisoned for alimony. We cannot pay the debt now; we don't have the means. I am left alone with three small children. If my husband were released, he could work, support the family, and pay the alimony," she explained.

A judicial system representative clarified that penalties for evading alimony payments were tightened starting in 2024. The law now mandates imprisonment for those who fail to pay for over a year. The representative added that if the debt is fully settled, an appeal can be filed, but criminal proceedings may resume if payments cease again.

According to bailiffs, the man had been subject to probation and community service measures since 2023. However, on May 23, 2026, he was sentenced to a year in prison. His alimony debt exceeded 500,000 Kyrgyz som. Presidential representative Tilek Tekebaev acknowledged that the debtor had been repeatedly given opportunities to clear his dues, leaving the matter unresolved. Official data shows that in 2025, there were 60,720 enforcement proceedings for alimony collection, with 1,204 individuals currently wanted for non-payment.