Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has criticized European Parliament deputies for what he described as one-sided and subjective reporting on human rights issues in Kyrgyzstan. Speaking at a meeting with members of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, Japarov expressed regret that EU officials had not sought clarification from the Kyrgyz government before publishing their reports.
European officials have previously raised concerns about criminal cases against independent journalists, particularly those linked to Temirov Live, as well as the prosecution of activists who opposed the transfer of the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan.
Addressing these concerns, Japarov defended his administration’s handling of these cases, stating that the judiciary operated independently and that some accused individuals had been acquitted.
“Two journalists are in custody, probation was applied to two, and seven were acquitted. The courts made their decisions, and we accepted them. When we resolved border issues with Uzbekistan, the so-called ‘Kempir-Abad group’ opposed the agreement, claiming we had given away land. But in reality, 99% of the population saw the deal as beneficial. Only 26 people protested, calling for unrest, and were arrested. But the court later acquitted them, and we did not object,” Japarov said.
He reiterated that freedom of speech and human rights remain key priorities for Kyrgyzstan.
“As an active member of the international community and the UN Human Rights Council, Kyrgyzstan is committed to strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and upholding international obligations,” he stated.
Chairman of the European Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Mounir Satouri, acknowledged the importance of strategic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the EU and expressed readiness for an open dialogue on the issues raised.
