Kyrgyzstan's President Calls on the U.S. and Other Countries

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov has urged other countries, including the U.S., not to interfere in the internal affairs of the republic. He made this statement in response to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s letter, which expressed concern over a bill regarding foreign agents that may be adopted in Kyrgyzstan.

Japarov claims that a small but “very loud group” of NGOs funded by foreign countries is “leveraging their challenges and persecutions.” This, he argued, compels their foreign sponsors to “take charge and spend the money of taxpayers from the U.S. and EU countries.”

According to the president, these same NGOs are spreading “false, misleading information among the people.” He proposed conducting an audit of non-governmental and non-profit organizations funded by the U.S.

“I also want to emphasize that we stand for equal cooperation and are ready to work with all countries and international partners, including the U.S. My only request is that you do not interfere in our country's internal affairs,” he stated in his reply to the U.S. Secretary of State (quoted from TASS).

Sadyr Japarov invited Antony Blinken to visit Bishkek to witness that human rights and freedoms in the republic are “under reliable protection of the Constitution and laws.”

The changes to the NGO law in Kyrgyzstan were initiated earlier this year by parliamentary member Naira Narmatova. She proposed to introduce the term “foreign representative” for NGOs receiving foreign funding and to create a registry for such organizations. Registration in the registry would mean that the organization is allowed to operate in the country.

Narmatova also suggested expanding state powers over NGOs, including allowing authorities to unilaterally suspend an organization’s activities for six months for legal violations.