Official statement of Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan to the President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on protection of Civic Space, Human Rights and Inclusive Participation i

Май 29.2026

29 May 2026

To: the President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Ms. Odile Renaud-Basso

Subject: Protection of Civic Space, Human Rights and Inclusive Participation in EBRD-Supported Projects in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia

Dear Ms. Renaud-Basso,

On behalf of the Human Rights Movement “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan” ahead of the EBRD 2026 Annual Meeting and Business Forum we would like to kindly express our serious concerns regarding the shrinking civic space, increasing pressure on independent civil society organizations, and growing restrictions on democratic participation in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia.

As a long-standing human rights organization working on issues of civic freedoms, access to justice, environmental rights, gender equality, and accountability, we believe that sustainable development and successful implementation of infrastructure, climate, transport, and urban modernization projects are impossible without meaningful public participation, transparency, and protection of fundamental human rights.

“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.

In recent years, the situation for civil society in Kyrgyzstan has significantly deteriorated. Since the adoption of the Law “On Foreign Representatives” in 2024, which mirrors the restrictive Russian “foreign agents” legislation, independent organizations, human rights defenders, journalists, environmental activists, women leaders, and youth initiatives have faced increasing administrative pressure, stigmatization, intimidation, and legal risks. These developments create an unsafe environment for public participation and weaken democratic governance mechanisms.

In response to these developments, “Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan” has initiated strategic litigation and legal advocacy efforts aimed at protecting constitutional rights and democratic freedoms. Our organization has led multiple court cases defending freedom of association, peaceful assembly, civic participation, and access to justice. However, despite these efforts, systemic challenges remain unresolved and continue to negatively affect civic engagement and accountability processes.

We are particularly concerned that the narrowing of civic space directly impacts the implementation of development projects financed or supported by international financial institutions, including the EBRD. Local communities, especially women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural populations, and communities living in environmentally vulnerable and climate-risk areas, often remain insufficiently involved in consultation and decision-making processes related to infrastructure modernization, environmental governance, transport systems, and climate adaptation initiatives.

We respectfully urge the EBRD to strengthen its institutional safeguards and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that all EBRD-supported projects in Kyrgyzstan and the wider Central Asian region are implemented in an enabling environment for civic participation and public oversight. In particular, we call on the EBRD to:

· strengthen protection mechanisms for civil society organizations, environmental defenders, journalists, and independent experts participating in public monitoring and consultation processes;
· ensure meaningful, transparent, and inclusive stakeholder engagement at all stages of project implementation;
· prevent retaliation, intimidation, or restrictions against individuals and organizations engaging with EBRD accountability and consultation mechanisms;
integrate human rights safeguards, gender equality principles, and climate justice approaches into all development and green transition initiatives;
· enhance transparency and accountability in urban modernization, environmental governance, and transport infrastructure projects.

We highly value the EBRD’s commitment to democratic values, sustainable development, climate resilience, and inclusive governance. We believe that stronger engagement with independent civil society and local communities is essential to ensuring that development projects contribute to social justice, environmental sustainability, and long-term regional stability.

We would also welcome an opportunity for constructive dialogue with EBRD leadership and relevant departments during the Annual Meeting and Business Forum regarding these concerns and possible avenues for cooperation.

Thank you for your attention to these important issues. We look forward to continued engagement with the EBRD in support of human rights, civic participation, and 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.

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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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