President of Kyrgyzstan has changed the deadlines for finalizing the draft law on non-commercial non-governmental organizations. Sadyr Japarov signed the corresponding order No. 81.
The document was adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh on March 14 and signed by the head of state on April 2. According to it, NGOs receiving funding from abroad and engaging in "political activities" are recognized as "foreign agents" (analogous to a foreign agent in Russian legislation). These NGOs will be required to provide additional reports and may be subjected to unscheduled inspections.
The working group was tasked with developing a mechanism to ensure the implementation of the law by May 1. The deadline has now been extended to November 1.
The working group includes representatives from the presidential administration, the Ministry of Justice, the Tax Service, the International Center for Non-Profit Law, and the NGOs themselves.
It is worth noting that many NGOs, after the document was adopted, submit applications to the Ministry of Justice to change the legal status of the organization - foundations and NGOs are being reorganized into limited liability companies.
The Soros-Kyrgyzstan Foundation has announced the cessation of its activities in the republic.
"I believe that the results of the foundation's work over the past 30 years speak for themselves. The organization and its dedicated employees have been able to provide important support to ordinary people throughout the Kyrgyz Republic, contributing to national aspirations for democracy and an open society. We are deeply saddened that this work cannot continue, and the new repressive law will lead to civil society operating in conditions of uncertainty and intimidation," noted Binaifer Nowrojee, the president of the Open Society Foundation.
