BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has endorsed amendments to the country's Criminal Code allowing individuals to use firearms in self-defense.
The presidential press service said on March 4 the amendments give Kyrgyz individuals the right to use firearms to protect their lives, health, and property against intruders.
The bill was initiated by lawmakers Feliks Kulov, Tatyana Levina, Eristina Kochkarova, Igor Gusarov, and Kanybek Osmonaliev from Ar-Namys (Dignity) party.
They argued that the amendmends were needed because of what they called "insufficient measures by the government to protect private property" in Kyrgyzstan.
Ownership of hunting guns with a police-issued permit has been allowed for years in Kyrgyzstan, but their use in self-defense had been forbidden until now.
