Kyrgyzstan

In 2016, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament rejected the “foreign agents” bill, however, the progression of discriminatory legislative proposal on “gay propaganda”, persistent impunity for ill-treatment and torture, as well as shortcomings in law enforcement and the judiciary all undermine and erode democratic progress that Kyrgyzstan has made in recent years. Authorities wrongfully keep human rights defender Azimjon Askarov imprisoned, despite the ruling of the UN Human Rights Committee in March 2016 to release him and quash his conviction. Violence and discrimination against women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people remain serious problems. Freedom of expression and assembly suffered setbacks in 2016, and attacks on defendants and lawyers in courts continued. Although the government acknowledges that torture occurs in Kyrgyzstan, impunity remains the norm.