A report into the role of Aksakal Courts in Kyrgyzstan by legal expert Azita Ranjbar and commissioned as part of Equal Before the Law. The report found that the use of aksakal (elders) courts in Kyrgyzstan is declining, with most courts receiving less than ten cases in the past year.
The reasons attributed to the declining use of aksakal courts among the general public include problems associated with enforcing judgments and the limited legal knowledge of aksakal court members. In addition, aksakal courts do not have the authority to resolve some of the most prevalent legal issues identified in rural areas, namely those involving undocumented marriages and property.