Militia Day in Kyrgyzstan Date in the current year: November 1, 2024

The history of law enforcement in Kyrgyzstan dates back to the late 19th century, when its territory was part of the Russian Empire. The Police Department of the Russian Empire was dissolved following the February Revolution of 1917, and the provisional government establishment “people’s militia”.

However, it wasn’t until after the October Revolution of 1917 that a new law enforcement system began to emerge in Kyrgyzstan. The first chief of Kyrgyz militia was Boltihoji Sultonov (also spelled Baltykhodja Sultanov), who supported the establishment of Soviet power in Kyrgyzstan and founded a militia department in the city of Osh. One of the main tasks of the newly founded militia was aiding the Red Army in fighting against the Basmachi movement in Central Asia.

The law enforcement force of Kyrgyzstan was officially established in 1924. The Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic was formed on October 14, 1924, and a week later, its Central Executive Committee founded the Kara-Kirghiz Revolutionary Committee. On November 1, the Committee began to function as the law enforcement force of the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast. This day is considered the birthday of Kyrgyz militia.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic was founded in 1968. It was subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Soviet Union. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kirghiz SSR was transformed into the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan.

Since then, the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has been reformed several times. The first reform lasted from 1999 and 2005, and the second from 2013 to 2017. Some of the subordinate institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been transferred to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Ecology and Emergency Situations, and the Ministry of Agriculture. The Internal Troops were absorbed by the National Guard of Kyrgyzstan in 2014 but were reinstated within the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2018.

Militia Day is the professional holiday of all law enforcement officers and employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. It is marked by awards ceremonies, concerts, and other events to honor law enforcement officers who’ve distinguished themselves over the past year and thank them for their hard work, dedication, and willingness to risk their lives to save the lives of others. The celebration also includes memorial services in honor of law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the lite of duty. Like all professional holidays in Kyrgyzstan, Militia Day is not a non-working day unless it falls during a weekend.