February 9, 2024
Photo Credit: Amnesty International © Stock Photo
Cited article by Amnesty International
HRRC urgently highlights the critical imperative for swift international intervention in response to the intensifying humanitarian crisis in Kyrgyzstan. We specifically call for immediate action to protect the rights and well-being of the country's populace amidst the current challenges.
News Brief
The government of Kyrgyzstan is currently engaging in an unprecedented crackdown on civil society, according to Amnesty International. Since 2021, the Kyrgyzstani authorities have been increasingly suppressing dissent and eroding human rights guarantees. Amnesty International's Central Asia Researcher, Maisy Weicherding, emphasizes that the government's actions are not isolated incidents but a strategically designed campaign to stifle critics. President Sadyr Zhaparov, in power for just three years, has introduced legislative initiatives, policies, and practices aimed at suppressing critical voices and restricting the operations of NGOs, particularly those involved in human rights advocacy or political activities.
The crackdown includes proposed legislation and amendments targeting civil society organizations, resembling Russia's "foreign agents" law, potentially hampering their ability to operate freely. Blanket bans on protests and court-imposed restrictions on gatherings critical of state policies have undermined the right of peaceful assembly since March 2022. Media freedom is also under threat with draft legislation extending government control over online resources. Amnesty International calls on the Kyrgyzstani government to reconsider proposed restrictive legislation, repeal repressive laws, engage in meaningful dialogue with civil society, and uphold international human rights commitments to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.