Kyrgyzstan President Japarov Responds to U.S. Secretary of State Blinken
Kyrgyz Foreign Affairs Minister meets with U.S. Ambassador to discuss cooperation
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, recently met with the U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kyrgyz Republic, Lesslie Viguerie. The meeting, which took place in Bishkek, focused on expanding cooperation in the areas of mutual trade, attracting investments, and interaction in the field of rare earth metals.
During the meeting, Minister Kulubaev handed over a response letter from the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The letter contained reasoned answers about the internal political situation and democratic processes in the country, although the specific details of the contents of the letter were not disclosed.
The discussions also touched on a recent letter written by Secretary of State Blinken to President Japarov regarding a bill on foreign representatives proposed by Nadira Narmatova. Blinken expressed concerns that the adoption of the bill could lead to civil and criminal penalties for non-governmental organizations.
The proposed foreign agents law, which was adopted by the committee in the second reading, seeks to introduce penalties for the creation and participation in non-profit organizations that infringe on the personality and rights of citizens. Despite opposition from the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Ombudsman, the terms of imprisonment suggested in the bill have been reduced to three and five years.
It’s worth noting that a number of international organizations have voiced their opposition to this proposed initiative.
The meeting between Minister Kulubaev and Ambassador Viguerie highlights the ongoing dialogue and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the United States, as well as the importance of addressing concerns and maintaining open communication channels between the two countries.
