Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised alarms over two new legislative measures in Kyrgyzstan that could significantly impede media freedom and dilute efforts against torture. Passed by the Kyrgyz parliament, these laws empower the government to limit media operations without judicial oversight and amalgamate the nation's principal anti-torture agency with the ombudsman's office.

According to HRW, these changes not only threaten the fundamental rights protected under international law but also compromise public safety. Syinat Sultanalieva, a Central Asia researcher at HRW, has called on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to veto these laws and to engage in thorough consultations on any future legislation impacting critical freedoms. "These draft laws represent a dangerous backslide in Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to human rights," Sultanalieva emphasized.

The newly approved media law categorizes all websites as mass media entities, mandating a rigorous registration process that must be completed prior to any legal distribution of information. This registration is solely controlled by the Cabinet of Ministers, which also holds the power to shut down media organizations without a court's review, thereby potentially stifling independent and critical media voices. Additionally, the law caps foreign ownership in media companies at 35%, a move that could further restrict external investment and diverse viewpoints.

Journalists, media experts, and legal professionals have voiced their concerns, highlighting that the latest amendments during the parliamentary reading could further tighten state control over the media, erasing previously agreed compromises.

The second legislative change involves merging the independent National Centre for the Prevention of Torture with the ombudsman’s office. This center, established in 2012 following Kyrgyzstan’s ratification of the anti-torture convention, has been recognized by UN human rights experts for its adherence to international standards. Critics argue that merging it with another governmental body could diminish its effectiveness and weaken its role in safeguarding human rights.

These legislative actions are part of a broader trend in Kyrgyzstan, where the government has been tightening its grip on media freedoms. Recent years have seen a slew of laws passed that allow the government to demand the removal of undesirable content, impose heavy tax reporting burdens on NGOs, and require organizations with foreign funding to register as "foreign agents," subjecting them to additional scrutiny.

As these restrictions increase, government dissenters continue to face persecution, and independent journalists often find themselves detained, sometimes without formal charges. The international community and local activists watch closely, hoping for a reversal of these policies that they believe jeopardize the very fabric of freedom and human rights in Kyrgyzstan.