BISHKEK -- A chorus of calls from leading nongovernmental organizations in Kyrgyzstan and abroad is demanding that President Sadyr Japarov veto a controversial bill modeled on Russia’s repressive “foreign agents” laws that they say will significantly restrict freedom of expression in the country.
Kyrgyz lawmakers approved the legislation requiring nonprofits receiving foreign funding to register with the government as "foreign representatives" in its third and final reading without debate on March 14. Japarov is widely expected to sign the bill into law in the coming days.
Since the bill was first introduced last year, civil society activists have warned of the consequences, especially given that similar legislation in Russia laid the groundwork for the systematic dismantling of civil society.
"The approval of the bill by the Supreme Council deputies indicates that they are politically corrupt and any violations of Kyrgyzstan’s citizens' rights and freedoms stay unpunished. Respected president, we call on you to use your constitutional right and veto the bill on 'foreign representatives," the joint statement by a group of NGOs said.
"Such a decision would set an example for the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms and respect of justice in the country," the statement added.
According to the bill, noncommercial organizations and media outlets that receive foreign funding and are engaged in broadly defined "political" activities will be obliged to report about their activities to the authorities. The legislation will also introduce wide oversight powers by the authorities and potential criminal sanctions for undefined criminal offenses.
Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov, in an online briefing on March 14, attempted to persuade NGOs and civil rights activists that the legislation will not impose any problems for them and rejected ongoing concerns and criticism.
Amnestly International, however, also called on Japarov to veto the law, citing expectations it will have a "highly restrictive" impact on civil society.
"This move not only undermines the right to freedom of association and threatens the independence of NGOs, but also erodes the very fabric of the once-vibrant civil society in Kyrgyzstan," said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia director.
“The passing of this legislation by parliament is deeply troubling.... The president can, and should, veto this legislation. It is crucial for international partners of Kyrgyzstan to remind its government and lawmakers what freedom of association means in practice, and compel them to immediately engage in meaningful dialogue with civil society organizations so that this harmful legislative initiative does not become law," she added.
Since 2012, Russia has used its “foreign agents” law to label and punish critics of government policies, including the February 2022 full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
The vague laws have been used to persecute organizations working in diverse fields such as education, culture, health care, environmental protection, human rights defense, and especially independent media.
Once Central Asia's standout country for independent journalism, intrepid reporting, and media innovation, Kyrgyzstan fell 50 places in the global media monitor Reporters Without Borders' most recent global ranking, sitting at 122nd place -- only 12 spots above its longtime authoritarian neighbor, Kazakhstan.
That plunge was in large part due to the authorities' decision to put severe restrictions on RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service -- including freezing its bank accounts -- in October 2022.