Kyrgyzstan

Although selling sex is not illegal under the Penal Code, sex workers are targetted by the authorities using administrative offences that are not directly related to sex work. After a recent change in the law, the new petty hooliganism offence (Article 119 of the Code of Minor Offences) can be used to target sex workers. Local contacts confirm, however, that this is more difficult to apply due to some procedures to be carried out by inquiry bodies, and this creates obstacles for police officers. So it is being used less against sex workers. Nevertheless, the police use sex workers' lack of knowledege on the law to routinely harrass and extort money from them.