On Thursday 21 November, the European Union and the Kyrgyz Republic held their fourteenth human rights dialogue, the first since the signing of their Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in June 2024 (see EUROPE 13440/11).
Discussions focused on developments in the field of human rights and good governance in Kyrgyzstan and the EU.
The EU voiced its concerns, notably about the shrinking space for civil society in Kyrgyzstan, and in particular the law on “foreign representatives” adopted in April 2024, aimed at regulating the activities of civil society organisations.
With regard to media freedom, the EU also referred to the recent court decision in the case of the eleven journalists from the investigative media organisation Temirov Live accused of “inciting mass unrest” and the closure of the independent news media organisation Kloop.
Conducted in parallel with an EU monitoring mission for GSP+ commitments, the dialogue also highlighted the fight against gender-based violence, the need to strengthen labour rights and mutual cooperation in international human rights forums. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)