More than 30 civil society organizations from various countries have addressed Kyrgyzstan's President regarding the proposed amendments to the Law on Nonprofit Organizations, also known as the "foreign agents law." The letter expresses support for Kyrgyzstan's civil society and urges President Sadyr Japarov to veto the bill for the benefit of the country and its people.
The proposed amendments are seen to seriously contradict Kyrgyzstan's international human rights obligations and could significantly impact the country's strong and active civil society. Experts warn that the legislation could limit civil society's ability to carry out important and lawful activities in the interest of Kyrgyzstan's population, undermining progress in democracy and human rights protection.
International partners have cautioned that the law on "foreign agents" could negatively affect the country's development aid programs. The European Union representation in Kyrgyzstan and the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have stated that the provisions in the bill threaten their ability to provide assistance aimed at improving the lives of citizens and residents of Kyrgyzstan.
Furthermore, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have emphasized the importance of cooperation with civil society organizations for their successful operations in the country. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the bill on the activities of international financial institutions in Kyrgyzstan.
The civil society representatives have reminded that the proposed legislation differs from the US Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) in key aspects and raises questions about the path Kyrgyzstan will choose regarding civil society engagement and international development goals.
Calls have been made for President Japarov to refrain from signing the bill and ensure that any new legislation affecting nonprofit organizations reflects Kyrgyzstan's human rights obligations, undergoes thorough consultations with civil society, national, and international experts. The bill was passed in the third reading on March 14, amending the Law on Nonprofit Organizations in Kyrgyzstan.
