Kyrgyzstan adopts a law on “foreigners”

The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan adopted a bill “on foreign representatives,” which in many ways is similar to the Russian law on “foreign agents.” Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service reported this on Thursday, March 14.

66 deputies voted for the document, five voted against. However, the document was adopted quickly, without discussion. This morning the issue was not on the agenda.

The document will come into effect after the president signs it.

The bill allows for strengthening state control over non-profit organizations (NPOs). Local non-governmental organizations funded from abroad and carrying out “political activities” in Kyrgyzstan will be recognized as “performing the functions of a foreign representative” and will be registered in the appropriate registry. The activities of organizations that are not registered as “foreign representatives” will be suspended for six months.

Such NPOs will be required to prepare additional reports to the Kyrgyz authorities and may be subject to unscheduled inspections. In addition, “foreign representatives” had to accompany their publications with a sign similar to the Russian one.

The bill has previously been criticized by activists and international organizations, particularly Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. They noted that the law could lead to most NGOs in Kyrgyzstan closing down and international donors leaving the country.

The delegations of the European Union and the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain and the United States issued a joint statement on Thursday expressing concern over the adoption of the Foreign Representatives Bill.

It is also reported that the Adilet Legal Clinic Foundation reviewed this document and found that it is 98% similar to the Russian law “on foreign agents.”

Let’s recall that in 2023, the Georgian parliament withdrew the bill on “foreign agents” amid mass protests in the country.