Human rights defenders express serious concern over the systemic impunity of officials who violate the constitutional rights of citizens. There is also an emphasis on the lack of independent and comprehensive expertise in the Kyrgyz language, as reported by the organization "Bir-Duino Kyrgyzstan."
At the meeting, lawyers, human rights defenders, and representatives of the ombudsman institution discussed the growing pressure on vulnerable groups in society, such as women, ethnic minorities, and labor migrants, in the context of tightening legal norms.
Seminar participants noted that the introduction of Russian legal practices, including laws on "foreign agents" and media, is leading to an increase in criminal cases based on accusations of statements and civic manifestations.
The absence of independent linguistic expertise in the country raises particular concern, as it violates the principle of adversarial proceedings in judicial processes.
During the discussion, Alexander Verkhovsky, head of the Sova Research Center, proposed implementing a "six-part test" for evaluating statements in judicial practice. This method includes analyzing various aspects such as context, the author's identity, intentions, and possible consequences, which can prevent criminal prosecution in the absence of a real threat of violence. Currently, experts believe that courts mostly rely solely on the content of the material, ignoring the motives of the accused.
An important topic of discussion was the role of education. Jamal Frontbek kyzy, head of the "Mutakallim" association, emphasized that low education levels contribute to the risk of radicalization, especially among women. One of the proposals made was the intention to create a women's department in the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan for early prevention of extremism.
Human rights activist Tolekan Ismailova noted that the prevention of radicalization should be based on education and the development of critical thinking, rather than on criminal repression. She believes that only maintaining a balance between security and human rights can lead to sustainable societal development.
Furthermore, experts pointed out the improvement of Kyrgyzstan's position in the Global Terrorism Index for 2025, where the country rose by five points, calling into question the need for further tightening of legislation.
Recommendations: From Court Monitoring to Reforming the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan
As a result of the discussion, experts developed a number of specific recommendations for government bodies and the ombudsman institution.
Seminar participants are confident that ending violations of the Constitution could be an important step for Kyrgyzstan in its aspiration to secure a place on the UN Security Council in the near future.
Previously, the country's government proposed a series of amendments to legislation aimed at strengthening national security. However, international organizations such as the UN and OSCE have repeatedly called on Kyrgyz authorities to maintain balance and avoid vague interpretations of the concepts of "extremism" and "inciting hatred," which could lead to restrictions on freedom of speech.
