This contribution provides an updated assessment of how the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic (Jogorku Kenesh) has implemented the commitments associated with its Partner for Democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) since 2022. It examines legislative developments, parliamentary functioning, human rights conditions, and cooperation with Council of Europe mechanisms.
The assessment finds that, despite continued formal engagement with PACE, democratic governance in Kyrgyzstan has deteriorated significantly. New legislation adopted between 2023 and 2025 including restrictive media laws, the “foreign representatives” law affecting NGOs, and amendments on “false information” – raises serious concerns about compliance with Council of Europe standards. Parliamentary oversight has weakened following the 2021 Constitution, which strengthened presidential power, while political pluralism, media freedom, and civil society space have sharply declined.
The contribution also reviews cooperation with PACE, the Venice Commission, and election observation mechanisms, identifying limited substantive engagement and insufficient use of Council of Europe expertise. It concludes with recommendations to strengthen parliamentary oversight, revise restrictive legislation, enhance transparency and public participation, and reinforce cooperation between Kyrgyzstan, PACE, and broader Council of Europe and EU programmes.
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