INSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN MAINTAINING PUBLIC ORDER: REGIONAL SPECIFICITIES OF THE POST-SOVIET SPACE IN CENTRAL ASIA - A COMPARATIVE LEGAL STUDY OF KAZAKH AND TAJIK MODELS

Abstract

This article examines the legal regulation of citizen participation in ensuring public safety in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, analyzing their legislative systems, law enforcement practices, and potential for regional cooperation. Drawing on primary sources—including laws, reports from ministries of internal affairs, court decisions, and academic studies—the study identifies the strengths of both models: Kazakhstan’s preventive approach, which reduced street crime by 23.1% in 2024, and Tajikistan’s territorial adaptation, which decreased offenses by 16.8%. A comparative analysis highlights their differences—strict regulation versus flexibility—and their complementarity. Successful cases, such as joint exercises in 2022 that reduced cross-border incidents by 12%, underscore the value of coordination. The article proposes establishing a platform within the EAEC and CSTO frameworks for experience sharing to enhance regional security. It contributes to the global discourse on the role of citizens in maintaining order, offering a model for countries with traditions of collective responsibility.