Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov signed the law on "foreign agents", officially known as the draft amendments to the law "On Non-profit organizations". The head of the republic announced this on his Facebook page, reports Tengrinews.kz .
Zhaparov said that he had previously been approached by non-governmental organizations and their foreign partners, who asked not to sign this law.
"Non-governmental organizations working in our country for 30 years have not been registered anywhere. They didn't report to anyone. They only opened bank accounts, took money from foreign donors and used it at their discretion, including for personal purposes. From now on, they, like everyone else, will register with the Ministry of Justice. They will open bank accounts. Now they will start working openly. There will be no mess like before," the President of Kyrgyzstan wrote."
According to him, non-governmental organizations are spreading false information, saying that they will be persecuted and detained as agents of a foreign state.
"The donors believed it. That's why they're asking me not to sign this law. You have been working with foreign donors for 30 years, and no one has persecuted you for taking any sums. Shall we start doing this now?" He added.
Zhaparov stated that there would be no prosecution.
"As the Head of State, I guarantee that there will be no persecution. We are not a nuclear country. We are not going to fly into space yet. Our state has no secrets to hide from you and your donors. All information can be found in open sources.
If you can, you will receive billions, not millions. This will only benefit our country. We just want to show everything openly so that everyone works on equal terms. Then foreign donors will be able to see how much money has been used and for which projects. And they will not be deceived," Sadyr Zhaparov wrote.
According to local media, if the law is adopted, "foreign agents" in Kyrgyzstan will be called "foreign representatives". They will be included in the appropriate register according to the same criteria that were originally included in the list of "foreign agents" in Russia: foreign financing and political activity. Scheduled (no more than once a year) and unscheduled inspections are established for them.
The amendments also require "foreign agents" to regularly submit detailed reports on their activities, including an audit of funds received from foreign sources and their use, information on management, the number of employees and their salaries. In addition, they will have to publish a report on their activities in the media every six months.
For the creation and management of a non-profit organization that encroaches on the personality and rights of citizens, as well as whose activities involve violence against citizens or other harm to their health or with incitement to commit illegal acts, a fine of 50 to 100 thousand soms or imprisonment for up to five years is threatened. For active participation in the activities of such associations and their propaganda, a fine of 100 to 200 thousand soms or imprisonment for up to 10 years is provided.