birduino - Human Rights Organization “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan” to Raise Concerns on Shrinking Civic Space at the EBRD 2026 Annual Meeting and Business Forum

Human Rights Organization “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan” to Raise Concerns on Shrinking Civic Space at the EBRD 2026 Annual Meeting and Business Forum

Май 26.2026

From 5–7 June 2026, the human rights organization “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan” will participate in the EBRD 2026 Annual Meeting and Business Forum, where the organization will raise urgent concerns regarding the shrinking civic space in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia, as well as the importance of protecting democratic participation, human rights defenders, environmental activists, and independent civil society organizations.

We note that Kyrgyzstan does not fully implement a number of international obligations and recommendations, including the relevant provisions of European Union resolutions regarding the protection of civil society, the rule of law and human rights, which increases the risks of further narrowing of civic space. The deterioration of civil liberties creates serious obstacles to inclusive development and limits the ability of local communities to participate in decisions affecting their environment, social conditions and the sustainable development of their regions.

During the EBRD-Civil Society meeting, we intend to draw the attention of the international community, EBRD Board of Directors, and development donors to the growing pressure on independent civil society organizations, environmental activists, human rights defenders, women leaders, journalists, and youth activists involved in public monitoring of infrastructure, climate, transport, and environmental projects. Since 2024, with the adoption of the Law "On Foreign Representatives," which is a copy of the Russian law on foreign agents, Bir Duino has been conducting strategic litigation and legal advocacy in defense of constitutional rights and democratic freedoms. The organization has led 18 court cases aimed at protecting the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association, civic participation, and access to justice. Despite the increasing pressure on independent civil society organizations and activists, advocacy against systemic impunity, restrictions on civil liberties, and human rights violations continues at all levels—local, national, regional, and international. Bir Duino emphasizes that combating impunity and protecting civic space remain essential for ensuring democratic governance, accountability and achieving the UN's global Sustainable Development Goals.

During the forum, representatives of the organization will draw international attention to the growing pressure faced by civil society actors, women environmental defenders, journalists, youth activists, and independent experts involved in monitoring environmental, climate, transport, and urban modernization projects supported by international financial institutions.

Bir Duino will underline that the deterioration of civic freedoms in Kyrgyzstan creates serious risks for inclusive development and weakens opportunities for local communities to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes affecting their lives, livelihoods, and environment. Bir Duino will also highlight the importance of ensuring that projects financed or supported by international financial institutions, including EBRD are implemented in a safe and enabling environment for civic participation, without intimidation, retaliation, or restrictions against independent organizations and activists.

The organization intends to stress that women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural communities, and populations living in climate-risk and disaster-prone areas remain insufficiently represented in development planning and environmental governance processes. Climate adaptation and urban modernization policies must incorporate strong human rights safeguards, gender-sensitive approaches, and inclusive consultation mechanisms.

The delegation will also present concerns related to the lack of transparency and meaningful consultation in infrastructure and urban transport modernization initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, including projects affecting environmental governance, public transport systems, and local communities.

Bir Duino will call on the EBRD and international partners to strengthen mechanisms aimed at:

protecting civic space and freedom of participation;

ensuring meaningful stakeholder engagement;

preventing reprisals against environmental defenders and civil society representatives;

increasing transparency and accountability in development projects;

integrating gender equality and climate justice principles into all modernization and green transition initiatives.

Our team believes that democratic governance, human rights protection, and inclusive civic participation are essential preconditions for sustainable development and climate resilience in Central Asia.

“Bir Duino” is a member of the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR), FORUM-ASIA, Civic Solidarity Platform, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Equality Now and Women Learning Partnership (WLP), Member of Civil Society Working Group on Sustainable Development in Central Asia.

For all questions, please contact the Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan team and Executive Director Murat Karypov by email: birduinokyrgyzstan@gmail.com, m.karypov@gmail.com and by phone: +996555422222.

Feedback from our focus groups

SHAKHBOZ LATIPOV

Experience should be attached to a law degree

Shakhboz Latipov, 24 y.o., young lawyer: “When I came to BDK for an internship, I had no experience in legal and human rights activities. Together with experienced senior colleagues, I began to attend trials, studied documents. Gradually my supervisor Khusanbai Saliev began to trust me the preparation of documents, carefully checked them and gave practical advice. Experience comes with time and cases you work on. Every day dozens of people who need help come to us, many of them are from socially vulnerable groups: the poor, large families, elderly citizens. A lawyer in a human rights organization sometimes acts as a psychologist, it is important for him to be able to maintain professionalism and show empathy. At the end of 2019, I successfully passed the exam to get the right to start working as attorney and now I work on cases as an attorney. I turn to my colleagues for help on complex issues, they always give me their advice. This is one of the strengths of the organization: there is support and understanding here.”

FERUZA AMADALIEVA

Organization unites regions

Feruza Amadalieva, social worker, leader, teacher: “TOT from BDK is a great opportunity to get acquainted with participants from different regions, we continue to communicate on social media and when we meet at events, as close friends, we have such warm relations! At the events, I improved my knowledge, systematized it, clarified how to apply it in practice. I really like the training modules and the way the system of training and practice is built: role-playing games, theory, discussions. Each person expresses himself/herself. I have become a leader for other vulnerable women, I try to help them and engage them in such events.” Feruza Amadalieva is a regular participant of many BDK events, she invites the BDK lawyers to provide legal advice to vulnerable women.

NURIZA TALANTBEK KYZY

I became confident

In summer of 2019, Nuriza Talantbek kyzy took an active part in conducting regional screenings of documentaries, helped with organizational issues during the campaign dedicated to the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, participated in trips, and did the TOT on women's leadership. She used to be a migrant, worked for an NGO in Osh, and now works in Bishkek in the service industry. She calls her participation in the TOT “an invaluable experience”: “I first attended such an event, and received exactly the information that I needed, for which I am sincerely grateful to the facilitators. I experienced very difficult issues in my life, and thanks to that knowledge, I was able to overcome them, I persevered! After the TOT, I became more confident, began to better understand the essence of human rights, and learned to defend my interests.”

SHUKURULLO KOCHKAROV

The defendant has passed away. The work on his rehabilitation continues.

The case of Shukurullo Kochkarov shows that work on complex cases continues for many years. After the torture he was subjected to in 2010, he became disabled. We managed to get acquittal on one of the charges; the work is ongoing on achieving his rehabilitation and recognition as a victim of torture in order for compensation to be paid. Trials continue without Shukurullo Kochkarov - he died on 2 August 2019. His interests are represented by his father, Saidaziz Kochkarov, who also has a visual disability. “For many years, we have been supported by the employees of BDK, they have been handling the case of my son, they brought him to court because he couldn’t walk on his own, they constantly help our family: my wife and I underwent rehabilitation, they have helped my son by providing him with medicines, they provide all kinds of help”.

DILYOR JUMABAEV

Comprehensive support for victims of torture

Resident of the Kara-Suu district, Dilyor Jumabaev, has extensive experience in dealing with law enforcement agencies. In 2010, he was accused of possessing firearms, and thanks to the work of lawyers, he was acquitted. Two years later, his house was first searched in order to find materials of an extremist nature, but nothing was found. In 2014, he was accused of possessing extremist materials. In court, the prosecutor requested 15 years in prison; the court sentenced him to 6 years. A few years later he was released on parole. “I am grateful to the lawyers of BDK for their expert legal assistance. I participated in a rehabilitation program for victims of torture. When I encounter violations, I recommend contacting this organization.”

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