What changed

B100225/2024

P10_TA(2024)0073

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

(2024/2993(RSP))

PE767.568

European Parliament resolution of 19 December 2024 on the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan, in particular the case of Temirlan Sultanbekov (2024/2993(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 (5) of its Rulesprevious ofresolutions Procedure,on Kyrgyzstan,

A. whereas on 13 November 2024 Temirlan Sultanbekov, leader of the Social Democratic Party, and two other leading party members were arrested on vote-buying allegations; whereas the Bishkek Territorial Commission subsequently disqualified all of the party’s municipal candidates; whereas on 15 November 2024, a Bishkek district court ordered that the party officials be held in pre-trial detention until 13 January 2025;

– having regard to Rule 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

B. whereas in 2016 the EU gave Kyrgyzstan special market access through the so-called Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+); whereas on 25 June 2024, the EU and the Kyrgyz Republic signed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) and that this agreement provides a new basis for reinforced political dialogue and deepening cooperation in many different areas; whereas different EU Member States are deepening their relationship with Kyrgyzstan; whereas in September 2024 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to discuss new investments in the energy sector and to forge new ties;

A. whereas searches were recently conducted at the headquarters of the Kyrgyzstan Social Democrats party (SDK); whereas ahead of the November 2024 municipal elections, a Bishkek district court ordered the pre-trial detention of SDK leader Temirlan Sultanbekov and other party officials until 13 January 2025; whereas they were arrested on vote-buying allegations, with an audiotape of unknown origin serving as the primary evidence, for which the judicial authorisation is unclear and its connection with the detainees unknown; whereas the SDK demonstrated that payments to campaign staff, as referred to in the recording, were transparent; whereas Mr Sultanbekov began a hunger strike in protest on the day of his arrest and his physical condition has since been seriously deteriorating; whereas the Bishkek Election Commission disqualified the party’s municipal candidates in Bishkek;

C. whereas on 14 March 2024 the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan adopted the “Law on Amending the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on Non-commercial Organisations”; whereas this law mandates that NGOs receiving foreign funding, or holding assets, and engaging in political activities must register as “foreign representatives”;

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

1. Considers that the EPCA between the EU and Kyrgyzstan will promote trade and investment, research and innovation and strengthen cooperation in the field of foreign and security policy; welcomes the Trade Chapter that will help to promote the further development of the Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that play a vital role in Kyrgyzstan’s economy; welcomes the steps that the Kyrgyz government has taken to encourage entrepreneurs to operate transparently;

C. whereas independent media, such as Kloop, Temirov Live, Ait Ait Dese and Azattyk, journalists and bloggers continue to face repression; whereas both the judiciary and vigilante violence are increasingly being used to suppress political opponents and civil society critics;

2. Notes that during the 14th Human Rights Dialogue on 21 November 2024, the EU and Kyrgyz Republic discussed developments in the field of human rights and good governance, including ongoing political and legislative reforms; notes, in this regard, the law on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence that was adopted on 26 June 2024 by the national Supreme Council, providing strengthened access to justice for women and girls and removing the impunity for perpetrators of violence;

D. whereas the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kyrgyzstan and the EU is subject to the Parliament consent procedure and requires Kyrgyzstan’s full compliance with its duty to protect human rights and uphold democratic standards;

3. Emphasises that every country has a right to adopt legislation and regulation to prevent foreign interference in its internal affairs, protect national sovereignty, and oversee foreign funding to NGOs;

1. Is concerned by the dubious reasons for the detention of Temirlan Sultanbekov and other pro-democracy activists in Kyrgyzstan and the possible political motivation behind the criminal case against them;

4. Welcomes the announcement on 4 December 2024 of the heads of the security services of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan that they had reached an agreement over the delimitation of their border; encourages the working groups to finalise the legal documents so that the ratification process can start;

2. Urges the Kyrgyz authorities to immediately release Mr Sultanbekov and other party officials and adopt alternative measures to detention, while respecting their right to due process in line with the civil and political rights guaranteed under the Kyrgyz constitution and international obligations; calls on the authorities to ensure his safety and well-being;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

3. Urges the Kyrgyz government to halt its campaign of intimidation and legal persecution against opposition parties, independent media outlets and journalists; is concerned by the adoption of the Russian-style ‘foreign agents’ law; urges the Kyrgyz authorities to drop all charges against human rights defenders, including Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, Azamat Ishenbekov, Aktilek Kaparov and Ayke Beishekeeva, journalists from the Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese channels;

4. Calls on the Kyrgyz authorities to respect human rights and uphold democratic standards and fundamental freedoms in line with the EPCA and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus;

5. Calls for all EU institutions and bodies, in particular the EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan, to continue to voice their grave concern over the deterioration of human rights with the Kyrgyz authorities, and to consider other action should the situation deteriorate further;

6. 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.