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1 1 (July 17, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveqdr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: inforn~in isional Researchi Service Updated July 17, 2024 Kyrgyz Republic Overvew The Kyrgyz Republic (commonly known as Kyrgyzstan) is a mountainous, landlocked country that borders the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China), Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan (see Figure 1), and maintains close ties with Russia. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991. Kyrgyzstan was long considered the most democratic country in Central Asia, and has a vibrant civil society and a higher degree of press freedom than found elsewhere in the region. Corruption is pervasive, however, and political institutions remain weak. In recent years, international observers have voiced concerns about democratic backsliding in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in light of the political upheaval that followed the country's contested 2020 parliamentary elections. In 2021, the NGO Freedom House classified Kyrgyzstan as Not Free for the first time in 11 years; it has since maintained that designation. Some Members of Congress have expressed concerns about democratic backsliding in Kyrgyzstan and about government pressure on independent media, including the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Po tca ackground Government: After Kyrgyzstan experienced revolutions that ousted authoritarian-leaning presidents in 2005 and 2010, a new constitution adopted in 2010 imposed a one- term limit on the presidency and converted the country to a semi-parliamentary system in which the prime minister shared executive power. In 2021, two referendums intiated a return to a presidential system; resulting constitutional changes transferred a range of powers from parliament to the president and decreased the size of Kyrgyzstan's unicameral parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council) from 120 to 90 members. Recent Political Developments: Amid protests following the disputed October 2020 parliamentary election and the resulting power vacuum, Sadyr Japarov, a former Member of Parliament who had been serving a lengthy prison sentence he maintains was politically motivated, quickly became both prime minister and acting president. Japarov was elected president in January 2021 with 79% of the vote amid 40% turnout, lower turnout than in previous elections; 84% of voters supported reverting to a presidential system in a concurrent referendum. A new constitution approved in an April 2021 referendum siginficantly expanded executive power at the expense of the legislature and allows a president to serve two five-year terms. Some observers questioned the legitimacy of these constitutional changes, as they were undertaken by a parliament whose mandate expired in October 2020. Some analysts posit that Kyrgyz voters may be drawn to a strong presidency due to long- standing frustrations with corruption and the ineffectiveness of parliament. The first parliamentary elections under the new constitution took place in November 2021. The new constitution established the People's Kurultai as a new government body, but did not specify how it was to function or how its members were to be chosen. Subsequent legislation delinineated the Kurultai as an assembly of 700 delegates with the authority to propose legislation and petition for the removal of government ministers. Japarov argues that the Kurultai promotes transparency and government accountability, while some critics see it as an attempt by the executive to further consolidate power at the expense of parliament and weaken civil society. Kyrgyzstan is next slated to hold parliamentary elections in 2026, with a presidental election scheduled to follow in 2027. Japarov already has expressed his intention to seek a second term. Figure I. Map of the Kyrgyz Republic Source: Graphic created by CRS Human Rights: According to the U.S. State Department, major human rights concerns in Kyrgyzstan include torture and arbitrary detention, inadequate judicial independence, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and corruption. In 2015, the State Department recognized imprisoned activist Azimjon Askarov with its Human Rights Defender Award, leading to significant friction in the U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relationship. Askarov died in prison in July 2020. The State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report rated Kyrgyzstan as a Tier 2 Watch List country, assessing that the government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. In May 2024, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that Kyrgyzstan be added to the State Department's Special Watch List under the International Religious Freedom Act for the first time, citing increased repression and restrictive legislation. Recent legislation in Kyrgyzstan has drawn concerns from observers about the future of Kyrgyz civil society and citizens' access to media and information. One 2023 law permits the government to restrict content it deems harmful to children; civil society activists argue that this indirectly targets the LGBTQI+ community. Some analysts consider

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