Kyrgyzstan has enacted legislation aimed at increasing state oversight of foreign-funded non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Human rights bodies and groups have criticised the controversial law, which is modelled on Russia's "foreign agents law", stating that it is restrictive. They argue that it will stigmatise them and create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

According to Reuters, the law employs language reminiscent of Russia's 2012 law on "foreign agents". It imposes additional reporting obligations on NGOs engaged in "political" activities and receiving foreign funding.

As reported by VOA, the law mandates that any organisation receiving foreign funding must register as a "foreign representative."

Furthermore, the law grants the implementing authority, the Ministry of Justice, the power to carry out unscheduled inspections and audits of such organisations. It also establishes criminal sanctions for non-compliance.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov stated in a press release, "Organisations have been collaborating with foreign donors for three decades, and no one has been prosecuted for receiving funds. Are we going to initiate such actions now? As the Head of State, I assure there will be no persecution."

He affirmed, "Our government has no hidden information from you or your donors." He continued, "All our data is publicly accessible. If possible, secure billions, not millions. It will be advantageous for our nation."

In February, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) cautioned that approving the bill "would significantly harm civil society, human rights advocates, and the media in Kyrgyzstan".

Moreover, the enactment of the bill, characterised as a crackdown on independent media, drew condemnation from the US State Department, which expressed being "deeply concerned" about the law's adoption.

US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller remarked that the law jeopardises the operations of NGOs, stating it "represents the latest in a series of actions by the Kyrgyz government that have undermined democratic governance and civil society."

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an NGO advocating for press freedom globally, has urged for the repeal of the law.

Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator based in New York, cautioned that "President Sadyr Japarov's decision to emulate Russia's 'foreign agent' legislation poses a threat to Kyrgyzstan's three-decade reputation as a bastion of free speech and democracy in post-Soviet Central Asia."

She added, "While the current iteration of the law does not directly target media outlets, it could severely hinder the operations of press freedom organisations and non-profits supporting several of Kyrgyzstan's renowned independent media organisations and should be rescinded."

Image source: Reuters