The organization "Bir-Duyno Kyrgyzstan" expressed particular concern about the systemic impunity of government officials who violate the constitutional rights of citizens, as well as the lack of independent expertise in the Kyrgyz language.
During the discussion, lawyers and human rights defenders emphasized the growing pressure on vulnerable groups, including women, ethnic minorities, and labor migrants, which is exacerbated by the existing repressive legal norms.
Seminar participants noted that the implementation of Russian legal norms, such as laws on "foreign agents" and media, has contributed to an increase in criminal cases related to statements and civic activism.
One of the main issues is the lack of independent linguistic expertise, which violates the principle of adversarial proceedings in court cases.
Alexander Verkhovsky, head of the Sova Research Center, proposed introducing a "six-part test" into judicial practice for assessing statements. This methodology involves analyzing the context, the author's personality, intentions, and possible consequences, which can help avoid criminal prosecution in the absence of a real threat of violence. Experts note that courts currently often rely solely on the content of materials, ignoring the motives of the accused.
The need to raise the level of education was also discussed. Jamal Frontbek kyzy, head of the "Mutakallim" association, emphasized that a lack of knowledge increases the risk of radicalization, especially among women. As a solution, she proposed creating a women's department within the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan for timely prevention of extremism.
Tolekan Ismailova, a human rights activist, added 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 guarantee the sustainable development of society.
Furthermore, experts noted that Kyrgyzstan improved its position in the Global Terrorism Index by five points for 2025, which raises doubts about the need for further tightening of legislation.
Recommendations: From Court Monitoring to Reforming the DUMK
As a result of the discussion, several concrete steps were proposed for government bodies and the ombudsman institution.
Seminar participants are confident that adherence to the Constitution will be a key factor in Kyrgyzstan obtaining a seat on the UN Security Council in the near future.
Earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers proposed a number of changes to legislation aimed at strengthening national security. However, international organizations, including the UN and OSCE, have repeatedly called on the Kyrgyz authorities to maintain a balance and to avoid ambiguous interpretations of the concepts of "extremism" and "incitement of hatred," which could be used to restrict freedom of speech.
