President Almazbek Atambaev has said that Kyrgyzstan has no need for a law on "foreign agents," such as the one Russia adopted and applies to foreign-financed nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
Speaking late on September 19 in Brussels, Atambaev said there were many NGOs in his country performing various functions but that Kyrgyzstan generally does not need such specific laws to govern their behavior.
Two members of the Kyrgyz parliament have proposed adopting a measure similar to the Russian law, which requires all NGOs that receive foreign funding and purportedly engage in "political activities" to register as "foreign agents."
International rights organizations had called on European Union leaders to press Atambaev on the proposed law during his visit to Brussels.
Speaking late on September 19 in Brussels, Atambaev said there were many NGOs in his country performing various functions but that Kyrgyzstan generally does not need such specific laws to govern their behavior.
Two members of the Kyrgyz parliament have proposed adopting a measure similar to the Russian law, which requires all NGOs that receive foreign funding and purportedly engage in "political activities" to register as "foreign agents."
International rights organizations had called on European Union leaders to press Atambaev on the proposed law during his visit to Brussels.
