Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has a dynamic political landscape, but shortcomings in judicial independence and accountability for law enforcement erode Kyrgyzstan’s democratic progress. Long-term human rights concerns have heightened since President Sadyr Japarov won a snap election in January 2021. Pressure on civil society has increased as have legal actions against independent journalists and media. The death in custody in 2020 of human rights defender Azimjon Askarov leaves a stain on the country’s reputation, as Kyrgyzstan continues to deny justice to victims of the June 2010 interethnic violence. Kyrgyzstan has sought to tackle domestic violence, but impunity for this widespread problem persists. Several foreign human rights workers remain banned from Kyrgyzstan. Border conflicts with Tajikistan have resulted in many deaths and serious human rights violations.