Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed into law the controversial legislation on "foreign agents," aiming to enhance transparency in the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Addressing concerns raised by foreign partners, President Japarov emphasized that the new law is intended to ensure accountability within the NGO sector without impeding their operations.
Transparency Mandate
In a statement posted on Facebook, President Japarov underscored the need for NGOs to register with the Ministry of Justice and open bank accounts, aligning with standard regulatory practices. He highlighted instances where NGOs operated without oversight, utilizing funds from foreign donors without transparency or accountability.
"NGOs that have been working in our country for 30 years were not registered anywhere. They were not accountable to anyone. They just opened bank accounts, took money from foreign donors and used it as they saw fit, including for personal purposes," President Japarov stated.
Deception Allegations
President Japarov addressed allegations of NGOs deceiving foreign donors by claiming persecution as "agents of a foreign state." He dismissed such claims, asserting that Kyrgyzstan has no intention of persecuting NGOs and emphasized the country's commitment to transparency and openness.
"You have been working with foreign donors for 30 years and no one has prosecuted you for taking money. Are we going to start doing that now? As the Head of State, I guarantee there will be no persecution," President Japarov assured.
Equal Treatment
The President emphasized the principle of equal treatment, questioning why NGOs from developed Western countries register with regulatory authorities and open bank accounts while operating in Kyrgyzstan. He asserted that Kyrgyzstan should not be treated differently and called for transparency to prevent misuse of funds for personal interests.
President Japarov assured that Kyrgyzstan has no secrets to hide and pledged non-interference in NGO activities. He emphasized the importance of transparency to foster trust between NGOs and foreign donors, ensuring that funds are utilized for intended projects.
Earlier, it was reported that Russian public figures, designated as "foreign agents" under domestic legislation, have issued a collective appeal to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, urging him to veto recent amendments to NPO laws enacted by the country's parliament regarding "foreign representatives".
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