Hugh Williamson, the head of Human Rights Watch (HRW) for Europe and Central Asia, has raised alarms over the worsening human rights conditions in Kyrgyzstan on the social networking platform Twitter.
Williamson noted that HRW had constructive discussions with representatives from Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic mission in the United States.
Concerns About Civil Society Restrictions
One of the key concerns highlighted by Hugh Williamson was the perceived threat to civil society posed by legislative measures. Specifically, he referenced a parliamentary initiative spearheaded by Nadira Narmatova, which proposes the introduction of the term "foreign representative" akin to the "foreign agent" concept present in Russian legislation. Such measures, if implemented, could potentially curtail the activities of civil society organizations operating in Kyrgyzstan.
.@hrw values opportunities to meet @mfa_kyrgyzstan @kgembassy. We remain deeply concerned about the worsening human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan, including a draft bill to curb civil society https://t.co/BkIo1dNByz & ongoing detention of 11 journalists without credible charges
— Hugh Williamson (@HughAWilliamson) February 20, 2024
Case of Detained Journalists
Additionally, Williamson drew attention to the recent detention of 11 journalists associated with four media outlets, including current and former employees of Temirov Live. These individuals were reportedly detained on what HRW considers to be unfounded charges, raising concerns about press freedom and the protection of journalists' rights in Kyrgyzstan.
Earlier, it was reported that the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern over a Kyrgyz court's recent decision to cease the operations of Kloop Media. Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, stated that the closure of Kloop, a highly esteemed media outlet in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, indicates the Kyrgyz government’s intent to dismantle the investigative journalism hub that previously set the country apart from its authoritarian neighbors.
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