Resolution of the Socialist International on the Situation in the Kyrgyz Republic
The Socialist International reaffirms the resolution on Kyrgyzstan 2022.
Persecution of Social Democrats during local elections in Bishkek and Uzgen—including removal of the party from ballot papers just three days before voting—deprived citizens of genuine choice and drove turnout down to a record low of 17 %. Temirlan Sultanbekov, Secretary-General of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, together with other party members, has faced fabricated criminal charges and restrictions on freedom of expression for publicly criticising the authorities.
We strongly condemn the closed first-instance hearings, which barred journalists and observers, and we demand an open appellate trial with live public broadcast, as required by Kyrgyz law.
These violations occur amid a systematic rollback of rights and freedoms: from 2022 to 2025 Kyrgyzstan fell in Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index from 72nd to 144th place—one of the world’s steepest three-year declines—and now ranks 148th in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, with indicators worsening annually.
The Socialist International deplores the persecution of independent media, including the April television channel, on grounds as trivial as “sarcasm” and “facial expressions”.
The Socialist International:
– demands an open appellate hearing of the case against Temirlan Sultanbekov and the Social Democrats, with public broadcasting of the proceedings;
– calls for Temirlan Sultanbekov’s freedom of movement in order to fulfill his responsibilities as Vice-President of Socialist International
– calls for full interrogation of all witnesses and experts, a thorough investigation of security-force violence, and an end to the unfounded prosecution of SDPK members in the Koy-Tash case; calls for initiation of legal proceedings against those responsible for the use of force against civilians.
– propose the Secretariat to pursue the dispatch of a Socialist International mission to Kyrgyzstan and to raise the issues of free speech and political repression before the UN Human Rights Council, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament, and other international bodies;
– reaffirms full solidarity with Social Democrats and all citizens of Kyrgyzstan who strive for democracy and justice, and pledges to use every political and legal mechanism available to defend their rights.
_______________
