During his speech on March 11 in parliament, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, clarified the rules for organizing rallies in the republic. He noted that the authorities do not prohibit protest events; however, their conduct must be carried out in accordance with established procedures — in the Maxim Gorky Park, after notifying the city authorities in advance. Holding actions in Ala-Too Square or near court buildings remains prohibited.
Japarov also critically assessed the content of some recent actions. In his opinion, the demands put forward by participants of the women's rights marches do not align with the local mentality and traditions. He pointed out that only 1% of the population supports such ideas, while the majority of citizens find them irritating. The President emphasized that slogans that contradict the cultural customs of the people cannot be promoted.
It is worth reminding that on March 8, an event in defense of women took place in Bishkek, where more than a hundred people gathered in Gorky Park. Activists were denied the opportunity to hold a traditional march, being allowed only to conduct a rally. The main themes of the event were the fight against domestic violence and victim-blaming. Participants and human rights defenders emphasized that the perpetrator is always to blame for the violence and urged women to openly stand up for their rights and not be afraid to defend themselves.
