Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Zhaparov has urged the United States and other nations to refrain from meddling in the republic's domestic matters while fostering objective evaluations of the ongoing developments.
In a response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President Zhaparov reiterated his commitment to collaborative efforts with global partners, including the US, provided they respect the sovereignty of Kyrgyzstan. He stated, "My only request is that you do not interfere in the internal affairs of our country." This correspondence was made public by the press secretary of the Kyrgyz head of state, Askat Alagozov.
Blinken had previously expressed his concern over the legislation which applies to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) within Kyrgyzstan, fearing that its adoption could negatively affect the civil society landscape. The legislation is currently under consideration in the national parliament.
President Zhaparov voiced disappointment over misleading information put out by US representatives regarding the state of human rights and freedoms in Kyrgyzstan. He criticized a few foreign-funded NGOs and their advocates for exaggerating challenges and persecution, which he believes incites foreign entities to expend resources on baseless claims. He said, "These same non-governmental structures often disseminate false, inaccurate information among the people, which leads to lawsuits by the victims or the defamed." Furthermore, he accused these groups of spreading misinformation, leading to legal disputes. To address this issue, Zhaparov suggested a comprehensive audit of the financial dealings of US-funded NGOs over the past decade, stating, "In this regard, I propose to conduct an audit of the use of funds by non-governmental and non-profit organizations funded by US government organizations, at least for the last 10 years."
Moreover, President Zhaparov extended an invitation to Blinken to visit Bishkek, offering him firsthand insight into the robust safeguarding of human rights and freedoms in accordance with the constitution and laws of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
The Kyrgyz parliament is working on a bill that would classify certain NGOs as "foreign representatives" and require them to register if they receive foreign financing and engage in political activities. The proposal also introduces penalties for organizations that violate the personal rights and dignity of Kyrgyzstan's citizens, including imprisonment for up to ten years or a fine.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS