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Disputed 'foreign agent' law shot down by Kyrgyzstan's parliament Disputed 'foreign agent' law shot down by Kyrgyzstan's parliament
(4 months later)
Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has voted against a contentious “foreign agent” bill which would have enforced harsh restrictions on groups who receive donations from abroad.Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has voted against a contentious “foreign agent” bill which would have enforced harsh restrictions on groups who receive donations from abroad.
In a surprise move, 65 of the 111 members of parliament present voted against the proposed legislation, which was undergoing its final reading.In a surprise move, 65 of the 111 members of parliament present voted against the proposed legislation, which was undergoing its final reading.
Though many politicians had publicly supported the proposed law, fears over the impact on the country’s democratic credentials prompted politicians to reject it.Though many politicians had publicly supported the proposed law, fears over the impact on the country’s democratic credentials prompted politicians to reject it.
Related: Harassed and shunned, the Russians labelled foreign agents by Kremlin
Janar Akayev, a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SDPK), said: “Many international organisations expressed their concern. We get financial assistance from them in many fields, including healthcare, education and agriculture among others. We need this money,” he explained.Janar Akayev, a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SDPK), said: “Many international organisations expressed their concern. We get financial assistance from them in many fields, including healthcare, education and agriculture among others. We need this money,” he explained.
Former justice minister Almambet Shykmamatov of the left-leaning Ata-Meken party also opposed the bill, arguing that while citizens had every right to vet how government money was spent, they were not necessarily entitled to “decide the fate of money provided by the Soros Foundation or Doctors Without Borders.”Former justice minister Almambet Shykmamatov of the left-leaning Ata-Meken party also opposed the bill, arguing that while citizens had every right to vet how government money was spent, they were not necessarily entitled to “decide the fate of money provided by the Soros Foundation or Doctors Without Borders.”
Russia, where similar legalisation was passed in 2012, has seen a sharp drop in the number of foreign-funded NGOs operating, with thousands others struggling to comply with the notoriously vague legislation.Russia, where similar legalisation was passed in 2012, has seen a sharp drop in the number of foreign-funded NGOs operating, with thousands others struggling to comply with the notoriously vague legislation.
However arguments in favour focused on transparency, with president Almazbek Atambayev, de facto leader of the SDPK, coming out in support of the proposed bill.However arguments in favour focused on transparency, with president Almazbek Atambayev, de facto leader of the SDPK, coming out in support of the proposed bill.
Galina Skripkina, also from the ruling SDPK, said it would in fact bolster democracy by making the financing of non-government organisations more accountable.Galina Skripkina, also from the ruling SDPK, said it would in fact bolster democracy by making the financing of non-government organisations more accountable.
“People should know what aims NGOs are pursuing and whose interests they are lobbying. That is what our law states. Only then will we have real democracy,” Skripkina was reported as saying.“People should know what aims NGOs are pursuing and whose interests they are lobbying. That is what our law states. Only then will we have real democracy,” Skripkina was reported as saying.
Although the initial legalisation was revised on second reading, allowing for the “foreign agent” label to be ditched, MPs decided the law would have dramatically increased the amount of paperwork NGOs would have had to submit to justify their continued existence.Although the initial legalisation was revised on second reading, allowing for the “foreign agent” label to be ditched, MPs decided the law would have dramatically increased the amount of paperwork NGOs would have had to submit to justify their continued existence.
InfluenceInfluence
Tolekan Ismailova, head of a human rights organisation gathering information on cases of torture and corruption, said the proposed bill was “discriminatory and inhumane”.Tolekan Ismailova, head of a human rights organisation gathering information on cases of torture and corruption, said the proposed bill was “discriminatory and inhumane”.
“A group of MPs started promoting this bill and we could see that the hand of the Kremlin was behind this,” Ismailova told the Kyrgyz news site, Kloop.kg, during protests outside parliament. “The discrimination concerns those NGOs that monitor corruption and the activities of parliament.”“A group of MPs started promoting this bill and we could see that the hand of the Kremlin was behind this,” Ismailova told the Kyrgyz news site, Kloop.kg, during protests outside parliament. “The discrimination concerns those NGOs that monitor corruption and the activities of parliament.”
Related: 'We'll cut off your head': open season for LGBT attacks in Kyrgyzstan
Like Ismailova, other critics of what the “foreign agents law” considered the legislation to be a clear result of Russia’s influence on Kyrgyz politics – which has in the past prided itself as a relative beacon of democracy and tolerance in the region.Like Ismailova, other critics of what the “foreign agents law” considered the legislation to be a clear result of Russia’s influence on Kyrgyz politics – which has in the past prided itself as a relative beacon of democracy and tolerance in the region.
But attitudes toward Moscow have grown more ambivalent in recent months since a pair of Russian companies failed to complete two major hydropower projects.But attitudes toward Moscow have grown more ambivalent in recent months since a pair of Russian companies failed to complete two major hydropower projects.
In January, the parliament revoked the deals signed with the two companies, which were supposed to generate some $4bn in investment.In January, the parliament revoked the deals signed with the two companies, which were supposed to generate some $4bn in investment.