Statement

Kyrgyzstan: Civil society and rights defenders under threat

21-12-2022

Paris-Geneva, December 21, 2022 - For the past three months, attacks against human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan have been on the rise, as part of an ongoing pattern of harassment of civil society by the authorities. This includes arbitrary criminal and administrative prosecutions, an illegal deportation, and anonymous offline and online threats. Human rights organisations are routinely subjected to unannounced tax inspections and smear campaigns on social media. Far from protecting them, the Kyrgyz authorities intend to enact new legislation that would seriously undermine freedom of association in the country if adopted.

Our briefing note ‘Civil society and rights defenders under threat’ includes cases of criminal and administrative prosecution of human rights defenders, offline and online threats, surveillance, and patterns of attacks and restrictions to the rights to freedom of expression and association in Kyrgyzstan.

Read it here.

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