The European Union and the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have jointly released a statement regarding the adoption of the "Foreign Agents Law" by the Jogorku Kenesh.
The statement expresses concern over the implications of the proposed amendments to the law on non-profit organizations, commonly known as the "Foreign Agents Law." The provisions of the law threaten the ability of non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to operate freely, contradict international norms, and jeopardize efforts to improve the lives of citizens and residents of the Kyrgyz Republic.
It is noted that if the document is signed in its current form, it could harm the most vulnerable segments of the population who rely on basic services provided by NGOs, such as food, healthcare, and education.
Non-profit and non-governmental organizations are seen as indispensable partners in building a democratic, fair, and prosperous Kyrgyz Republic. The authors of the statement urge President Sadyr Japarov to heed the concerns raised both within the country and abroad and reconsider this law with the parliament's leadership.
Today, the Jogorku Kenesh passed in the third reading a bill on "foreign agents" (similar to the concept of foreign agents in Russian legislation), officially known as the draft law "On Amending the Law on Non-Profit Organizations."
