The international organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RSF) is urging the cancellation of the draconian law on "foreign agents" signed by Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov. This law allows authorities to suspend the activities of NGOs and independent media without judicial oversight, risking dangerous radicalization that could stifle press freedom in Kyrgyzstan.
Following the arrests of journalists and attempts to impose censorship, the law tarnishing alleged "foreign agents" signifies a new stage of growing authoritarianism under President Japarov in Kyrgyzstan. The harsh measures could lead to the suppression of independent media, already under significant pressure from the authorities. RSF's Head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Jeanne Cavelier, stated that the law is a pretext for further pressure on civil society and the suppression of media pluralism, calling for its immediate repeal.
On March 14, the Jogorku Kenesh adopted in the third reading a bill on "foreign representatives" (analogous to foreign agents in Russian legislation), officially known as the draft law "On Amending the Law on Non-Profit Organizations."
President Sadyr Japarov signed the law on April 2. In a statement posted on Facebook, the president promised that there would be no persecution of NGOs and their representatives following the law's signing.
