Some 120 nongovernmental groups have publicly appealed to lawmakers in the Kyrgyz parliament, the Supreme Council, to reject adoption of a law that would allow authorities to register organizations as "foreign representatives" in a style that critics say mirrors repressive Russian legislation. The NGOs say in the appeal, which is addressed to the chairman of the Supreme Council's committee on law and order and crime and corruption, Suyunbek Omurzakov, that the Kyrgyz bill merely substitutes the term "foreign representative" for "foreign agent" but would have a similarly chilling effect. They also say it will harm the Central Asian country of around 7 million people's economy. To see the original story by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.
More Than 100 Kyrgyz NGOs Urge Rejection Of Russian-Style 'Foreign Representative' Law
Asel Supataeva's picket against the "foreign representative" law on June 10 in Bishkek.