Kyrgyzstan Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kyrgyz Servicemen Will Be Allowed to Buy Their Military Housing

A new law in Kyrgyzstan allows military personnel who have served in the Kyrgyz army for more than 20 years to purchase their government-issued housing for temporary use. Additionally, families of servicemen killed in the line of duty -- and former members of the military themselves -- can submit claims for housing. The state-assigned apartment can be bought out, or, under certain conditions, can be obtained free of charge. "To military servicemen, dismissed to the reserve or retired by age, health, redundancy or family and other important circumstances and having a length of service of 20 calendar years or more, as well as family members of a serviceman who died or died in the performance of military service, occupied or provided them with service apartments at their chosen place of residence are transferred to personal ownership free of charge," reads the text of the law. The issue of service housing had previously been raised by the Ministry of Defense. The ministry believed that employees should be able to own their state housing during their service, and not only upon retirement. The ministry says it believes the legislative changes will raise the status of the Kyrgyz army. According to official data, more than 3,000 military personnel live in cramped conditions in the country. The authorities pay rent compensation to such service members in the amount of $100 per month.

Central Asia Environment Kyrgyzstan Environment Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Mudslides in Kyrgyzstan Flood Over 200 Homes

Kyrgyzstan's emergencies ministry has formed an operational headquarters to deal with recent flooding in the south of the country. Rescuers report that hundreds of local residents have been evacuated to safety. Flooding due to heavy rains began last week in Kyrgyzstan's southern Osh region, prompting the region to declare a state of emergency. More than 500 people, including local volunteers, are currently working to clear up the damage caused. "At about 22:00 (April 22), information was received that flood waters inundated houses and roads due to heavy rain in Mady, Besh-Moinok, Kyrgyz-Chek, Asan-Chek villages of the Kara-Suu district of Osh region," the emergency ministry has commented. Unstable weather and heavy rains have already caused mountain mudslides in four regions of Kyrgyzstan. In total more than 30 mudslides have been recorded in recent days, inundating more than 200 homes. Rescuers quickly cleared some villages and districts; however, meteorologists warn that avalanches and flooding may continue until April 26, as the water level in rivers will rise.

Central Asia Home Justice Local Politics Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Features Kyrgyzstan Opinions Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyzstan’s Law on NGOs: What Alarms Human Rights Activists?

In April 2024 Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Now all NGOs must submit full financial reports and register with the Ministry of Justice. Despite the authorities' statements about the need for a document regulating the financing of such organizations, the law has numerous opponents. President Japarov himself claims that some NGOs have deceived donors by using foreign funds -- meant for roundtable discussions, training sessions and projects -- for personal purposes. "If you say that this is not true, I can prove it. Why do NGOs in developed countries register with the Ministry of Justice, tax service, open a bank account and do not do the same when they come to us? Or are we a second-rate country? No, we are not. We will not allow such dubious actions anymore," Japarov said after criticism from NGO representatives. Under the new legislation, an NGO that has received foreign aid will be called a "foreign representative". Public activists claim that the rule is consonant with the Russian law on foreign agent status for nonprofits that accept foreign funding. Such a situation will carry certain reputational risks: according to the law, organizations that receive funding from abroad and deal with political issues must be included in a special register and operate under the control of state bodies. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Azisbek Ashurov, head of the NGO 'Lawyers of Fergana Valley Without Borders' and a human rights activist, spoke about the pitfalls of the law. In Ashurov's opinion, the document is designed to limit the activities of the private sector. "We are concerned about the re-registration procedure itself. Either it is just an application procedure, or someone will approve, make decisions. When decisions are made, how transparent and non-corrupt will it be?" he asked. Ashurov gave the example that in Kyrgyzstan there are NGOs providing legal assistance to citizens. If there is a dispute with a government body, the decision is challenged in the courts. However, now such structures will be dependent on the state and will not be able to work fully independently. "State bodies have been authorized to interfere in the activities of NGOs. This is participation in their internal activities. We discuss some of our cases [via] collegiums, when lawyers discuss the strategy for different cases. Now, imagine, a representative of the state will sit and listen to confidential information that in the interest of the citizen we should not disclose. The balance is grossly upset. The adversarial principle is violated if we are preparing for court hearings against state bodies, for example, against the Ministry of Justice," Ashurov added. According to him, the Ministry of Justice was given the opportunity to suspend the activities of NGOs for violations. However, the current legislative framework doesn't specify the violations for which an NGO can be suspended. The law prescribes that state bodies may request information from NGOs -- however, it's not specified what kind of information should be provided. In...

Central Asia Uzbekistan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Uzbekistan International Affairs

Kyrgyzstan Completes Resettlement of Residents From Exclave in Uzbekistan

The Kyrgyz government has completed the resettlement of residents of the Barak exclave, a portion of a country separated from the Kyrgyz mainland that is completely encompassed by Uzbekistan. That's according to a report by the TV channel ELTR. All houses and social infrastructure in Barak were dismantled and moved to Kyrgyzstan. Ninety-eight families were temporarily placed in different areas of Osh region, with some of them staying with relatives, and others placed in rented houses. According to the report, the government of Uzbekistan allocated 208 hectares of land to Kyrgyzstan in exchange for Barak. The Kyrgyz government plans to build housing in this area and settle the relocated families. Barak is a rural settlement with a total area of about 4 square kilometers, where 1,250 people lived. It was the largest exclave of Kyrgyzstan, surrounded on all sides by the Uzbek region of Andijan's Korgontepa district. Barak is located 1.5 kilometers from the border with the Kyrgyz mainland. In 2018 Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan agreed on an exchange of land plots whereby Kyrgyzstan would receive the territory of Barak, and in return swap an equivalent plot of land adjacent to the village of Aktash in the Karasuv district. However, the exchange did not take place. In November 2022 Kyrgyzstan announced that it had reached a final agreement on the exchange of territories with Uzbekistan, giving the green light to the current resettlement plan.

Central Asia Kyrgyzstan Justice Justice Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan’s Special Services Take On The Drug Mafia

The head of Kyrgyzstan's National Security Service, Kamchybek Tashiyev, has commented that unless it is curbed, the country's already highly complex drug situation is likely to be beyond control within ten years. Speaking at a meeting with heads of Kyrgyzstan's police departments, Tashiyev said that the number of both drug distributers and drug users has soared recently, largely among people under 25, and growing drug abuse threatens to reduce the contribution that young Kyrgyz can make to the country. In a move to combat the problem, when evaluating the work of law enforcement agencies, their success in stopping drug trafficking will be factored in. Tashiyev admitted that 12 law enforcement officers have been found to have links to the drug mafia in the past year alone. According to operational data, drug traffickers have flourished in the online space, using modern technology -- even payment goes through electronic wallets. Tashiyev added: "Drugs which used to be [farmed] have now been replaced by synthetic drugs, and the number of laboratories manufacturing these drugs has increased. Substances are sourced from abroad and the drugs are then manufactured in our country." "If the drug situation in the country remains at the same level as it is now, our society will face a big problem in ten years at most. Therefore, all law enforcement agencies must begin a ruthless fight against those who distribute drugs. All measures within the law will be applied to such persons," Tashiyev emphasized. He demanded special control over schools, universities, nightclubs and cafes. Kyrgyzstan is considered a transit country for illegal drugs because of its close proximity to Afghanistan. The estimated number of people who use substances on a regular basis has reached 50,000.

Central Asia Local Politics Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyz Authorities Seeking Monopoly on Insurance, Industry Group Says

The Kyrgyz Association of Insurers is sounding the alarm that private insurance companies may soon be out of work due to government interference. According to a decree signed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, all state bodies and local governments are now instructed to insure all their property with the State Insurance Organization (JSC SIO) in order to develop the national insurance market. "The Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic will define JSC SIO as the national operator for reinsurance, including export risks, within the framework of cooperation with the Eurasian Reinsurance Company," the document says. The Kyrgyz Association of Insurers appealed to human rights activists to assist in protecting their interests. Private insurers are sure that the new law violates their rights and doesn't comply with Kyrgyzstan's current legislation. "According to insurers, the principles of entrepreneurial activity established by the legislation of the country, such as non-interference of state bodies in the activities of business entities, are violated. In addition, the state guarantees for the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs equal rights and opportunities to access financial resources -- as well as the creation of conditions for the protection and development of competition -- are being violated," - said the International Business Council, which was engaged by Kyrgyz private insurance companies on the matter. The current law "On Organization of Insurance in the Kyrgyz Republic" prohibits interference in insurance activities. Private insurance brokers and business owners argue that the state is playing an unfair game at the legislative level, forcing state-owned companies to insure their property with the SIO. Besides, the financial means to underwrite risk and pay out possible insurance claims are miniscule to the capitalization of private insurers. Last year, the authorities increased the capitalization of the SSO to 1 billion som, and this year they will allocate another 300 million som by presidential decree. "In the prescribed manner by 2027 to find and gradually allocate funds in the amount of 5 billion som to JSC "SIO" to increase the authorized capital... By 2027, the annual profit in the amount of 100 percent, received from the activities of JSC "SIO," will be directed to increase the authorized capital at the expense of the distribution of budget revenues and expenditures," the law reads. Today, 15 insurance companies, including SSS -- as well as several Chinese and Kazakhstani insurers -- operate in the Kyrgyz market. People familiar with the situation who spoke to The Times of Central Asia say most of the major national companies are already insured with SIO, meaning that only civil insurance lines -- like health and life -- and auto insurance remain for private insurers.