Kyrgyzstan positions itself as a beacon of freedom in Central Asia: in the past, it has been celebrated as a democratic outlier amid authoritarian neighbouring states. Kyrgyzstan’s liberal image, however, no longer reflects its reality.
On 14 March, the country’s parliament adopted legislation forcing NGOs engaged in vague ‘political activities’ while receiving funds from abroad to register as ‘foreign representatives’ – a designation associated with stricter reporting obligations and onerous inspections. Human rights watchdogs have swiftly condemned the move, with Amnesty International describing the crackdown as ‘unprecedented’. But the measure may be only the beginning of Kyrgyzstan’s democratic backslide.
