What changed

B100224/2024

B100227/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on humanthe Human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan, in particular the case of Temirlan Sultanbekov

(2024/2993(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutionsresolution on Kyrgyzstan,

– having regard to RuleRules 107144(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Temirlan Sultanbekov, the leader of the Social Democrats party, alongside Irina Karamushkina and Roza Tyurksever, was detained on November 15, 2024, by Kyrgyz authorities under the accusation of “vote-buying”; whereas all the Social Democrat candidates in Bishkek were subsequently disqualified;

Whereas ahead of November municipal elections in Kyrgyzstan, searches were conducted at the headquarters of the Social Democrats of Kyrgyzstan (SDK) on 13 November 2024; whereas the Bishkek Territorial Election Commission subsequently disqualified all of the party's municipal candidates in Bishkek;

whereas Sultanbekov began a hunger strike in protest of his detention and his health is deteriorating;

Whereas Temirlan Sultanbekov, the leader SDK and party members Irina Karamushkina, and Roza Turksever, were unlawfully detained and remanded into custody for two months; whereas Mr Sultanbekov is currently on hunger strike to protest his unjust continued detention and the disqualification of his party, and is refusing from medical assistance;

whereas the familiy of Sultanbekov was refused to visit him;

Whereas Mr Sultanbekov was denied legal representation, and pressured to withdraw his candidacy in the elections; whereas following his refusal, he was denied his rights under Kyrgyz electoral law;

whereas human rights organisations have reported about detention of activists and opposition politicians, undermining both the rule of law and basic human rights protections in Kyrgyzstan;

Whereas on 17 November 2024 a criminal case was opened under the "Vote buying" article of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan, based on an audio recording allegedly discussing vote buying among undetermined people; whereas the existence of a judicial authorization for the recording is unclear and its connexion with the detainees is unknown; whereas Mr. Sultanbekov denies the charges and no credible evidence was presented at the time; whereas the SDK demonstrated that payments to campaign staff were transparent and through legal banking channels;

whereas in recent years, democratic standards and human rights in Kyrgyzstan have deteriorated alarmingly;

Whereas the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kyrgyzstan and the European Union, signed on June 2024, is meant to provide a new framework for relations among both parts, including on human rights and democracy;

whereas the introduction of a Russian-style law on "foreign representatives" in 2024 has further restricted civil society organizations and media outlets from operating freely, effectively undermining democratic principles in Kyrgyzstan.

Whereas the EPCA is subjected to the Parliament consent procedure and to the full compliance of Kyrgyzstan’s protection of human rights and democratic standards;

whereas independent media, such as Kloop, Temirov Live and Azattyk, continue to face repression; whereas four journalists from independent investigative media were prosecuted and Makhabat Tazhibek, Azamat Ishenbeko were imprisoned in October 2024;

Condemns the unlawful detention of Temirlan Sultanbekov and other pro-democracy activists in Kyrgyzstan; is concerned by the possible political motivations behind the criminal case against him;

whereas in February 2023, Kyrgyzstan became a member of the UN Human Rights Council; whereas Kyrgyzstan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966;

Expresses concern over the targeting and weakening of opposition forces, alongside civil society, independent media, and economic entities, deteriorating the human rights’ situation in Kyrgyzstan;

Expresses grave concern about detention and the deteriorating health of Temirlan Sultanbekov and the inadequate response by the Kyrgyz authorities;

Urges Kyrgyzstan authorities to immediately release Mr Sultanbekov and other pro-democracy activists, or to adopt alternative measures to detention; calls on the authorities to drop politically motivated charges against him;

Considers that the ill-treatment of prisoners, is a crackdown on political and civil rights; Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners detained for their political positions; Calls on the Kyrgyz authorities ensure full access to political rights and equal treatment to opposition parties and politicians;

Regrets that it has been more than 28 days of his hunger strike, which significantly worsens his health condition; calls on the authorities to ensure his safety and well-being;

Calls on the Kyrgyz authorities to respect and uphold fundamental freedoms, in particular human rights, freedom of expression, democracy, and the rule of law, and to strengthen electoral processes in line with the EU-Kyrgyzstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; calls in this regard for civil society activists, journalists, human rights defenders, politicians to be genuinely protected in the exercise of their freedom of expression, of assembly and association, so they can carry out their work without fear of reprisals or legal harassment by the authorities;

Calls on the EU Delegations and EU Member States’ embassies to the country to closely follow the situation; calls on EU Member States’ to raise these concerns with the Kyrgyz authorities;

Calls for the EU institutions, in particular the EU Delegation in Kyrgyzstan, to continue expressing their grave concern over the deterioration of human rights in the country in all their exchanges with the Kyrgyz authorities, and to consider the possibility of proposing sanctions under the EU Magnitsky Act should the situation deteriorate further;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU’s VP / HR, the EUSR for Central Asia, EU Member States, the UN Human Rights Council and the Kyrgyz authorities.

Calls on the Commission immediately reassess the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus benefits to the country, given Kyrgyzstan’s commitments under international conventions;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, the Member States, the UN Human Rights Council and the Kyrgyz authorities;