New report on implementation of law on peaceful assembly in Kyrgyzstan presented at OSCE event

BISHKEK, 28 November 2013 - The current state of  freedom of assembly in Kyrgyzstan was discussed today in Bishkek at an OSCE-organized roundtable meeting that also featured a presentation of a new monitoring report on the implementation of the 2012 law on peaceful assemblies in Kyrgyzstan.

The authors of the report collected information about the assemblies that took place from March until end October 2013 across Kyrgyzstan and offered recommendations on how to improve the implementation of the law.

The report notes that the majority of the assemblies observed focused on socio-economic issues. Most of the meetings were held without legally required prior notification to the authorities, and only a small number of assemblies were officially restricted. A slight increase in the number of non-peaceful gatherings may be seen as a point of concern, the authors of the report suggested.

Fabio Piana, Senior Human Dimension Officer of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said, “The implementation of the principle of freedom of peaceful assembly is a barometer of democracy, and regular monitoring and analysis of the situation in this field is essential. This report  provides the necessary elements to better understand this freedom and its implementation. I am confident that the recommendations  will be a useful reference tool for both legislators and practitioners, including law enforcement agencies.”

The report was drafted by the public foundation ‘Independent Human Rights Group’, and is the third OSCE-supported publication on the topic since 2011. It has been prepared in close co-ordination with national and local authorities, and the law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan.

Ulugbek Azimov, legal expert of the ‘Independent Human Rights Group’, said: “We trust that publication of this year’s report will result in a more painstaking scrutiny of how law on peaceful assemblies is implemented.” He underlined the “crucial role” played by civil activists in monitoring of the implementation of legal initiatives in the country.

Government officials, representatives of civil society and international expert community took part in the event. UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia, Freedom House and Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan co-supported today’s event.