The general procedure for acquiring or terminating citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic is the procedure for consideration of issues of citizenship and adoption of decisions on them by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in relation to persons covered by the general conditions envisioned by this Law; Authorised agencies are state agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic which play roles in resolving issues of citizenship; The simplified procedure for acquiring or terminating citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic is the procedure for consideration of issues of citizenship and adoption of decisions on them in relation to persons to whom privileged conditions envisioned under this Law and international treaties legally in force are applied; A child is a person under 18 years of age. Article 4. Principles of citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic 1. Every person in the Kyrgyz Republic has the right to citizenship. 2. No citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic can be deprived of his/her citizenship or the right to change his/her citizenship. 3. The Kyrgyz Republic guarantees protection and patronage to its citizens outside its borders. 4. Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, regardless of the legal basis and the procedure by which they have obtained citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic, have equal rights, freedoms and obligations in accordance with the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. Article 5. Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic are: 1) persons who are citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic on the day this Law comes into effect; 2) persons who were formerly citizens of the USSR and who have lived continuously for the last five years (from the moment of making an application to internal affairs agencies) on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and who have not made any statement regarding obtaining citizenship of another state; 3) persons who obtained citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic in accordance with this Law. Article 6. Other citizenship 1. A citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic who has another citizenship is considered by the Kyrgyz Republic only to be a citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the exception of cases envisioned under Law and international treaties, which have come into force in accordance with law. 2. Obtaining of citizenship of another sate by a citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic shall not result in termination of citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic. Article 7. Protection by the state of the rights, freedoms and legal interests of citi zens of the Kyrgyz Republic located outside the Kyrgyz Republic 1. The rights, freedoms and legal interests of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic located outside the Kyrgyz Republic shall be protected through diplomatic representations and consular agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic. 2. State authorities, diplomatic representations, and consular agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic, and their office holders must undertake measures to ensure to citizens of the Small Changes ‫ ـ‬Big Gains: An Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Statelessness in the Kyrgyz Republic 93