What changed

B100227/2024

B100225/2024

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

(2024/2993(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to itsRule previous150 resolution(5) onof Kyrgyzstan,its Rules of Procedure,

having regard to Rules 144(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

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;

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;

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;

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

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”;

whereas the familiy of Sultanbekov was refused to visit him;

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;

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;

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;

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

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;

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.

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;

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;

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.

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

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;

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 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;

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;