President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan has issued a firm call to the United States, urging them to refrain from meddling in the country’s internal affairs. This statement comes in response to a letter addressed to him by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The contents of President Japarov’s message were made public by his press secretary, Askat Alagozov. On February 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan dispatched a formal reply to the U.S. Ambassador.
The communication from the American Secretary of State expressed apprehension regarding a proposed amendment to the law concerning “Non-Profit Organizations” in Kyrgyzstan.
Expressing disappointment, President Japarov underscored that the U.S. Secretary of State’s letter exhibited signs of interference in Kyrgyzstan’s internal affairs.
Japarov clarified that the objective of the proposed bill is to bring clarity and coherence to the operations of non-governmental and non-profit entities within the country. He emphasized the significant role played by tens of thousands of NGOs and non-profit organizations in Kyrgyzstan, addressing issues that were previously overlooked by the state.
“However, it is worth recognizing that certain NGOs and non-profits receive funding from abroad, not solely from the USA and EU nations. This raises concerns regarding the protection of Kyrgyzstan’s legitimate interests – specifically, the extent of state oversight over media and non-governmental organizations financed by foreign entities,” explained President Japarov.
He further emphasized the government’s prerogative to monitor the funding sources of these organizations and ensure transparency in their operations, in line with Kyrgyzstan’s sovereign status.
