MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan, in particular the case of Temirlan Sultanbekov

B10‑0227/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the Human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan, in particular the case of Temirlan Sultanbekov

(2024/2993(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to its previous resolution on Kyrgyzstan,

-  having regard to Rules 144(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

1. whereas Temirlan Sultanbekov, the leader of the Social Democrats party, alongside Irina Karamushkina and Roza Tyurksever, was detained on November 15, 2024, by Kyrgyz authorities under the accusation of “vote-buying”; whereas all the Social Democrat candidates in Bishkek were subsequently disqualified;
2. whereas Sultanbekov began a hunger strike in protest of his detention and his health is deteriorating;
3. whereas the familiy of Sultanbekov was refused to visit him;
4. whereas human rights organisations have reported about detention of activists and opposition politicians, undermining both the rule of law and basic human rights protections in Kyrgyzstan;
5. whereas in recent years, democratic standards and human rights in Kyrgyzstan have deteriorated alarmingly;
6. whereas the introduction of a Russian-style law on "foreign representatives" in 2024 has further restricted civil society organizations and media outlets from operating freely, effectively undermining democratic principles in Kyrgyzstan.
7. whereas independent media, such as Kloop, Temirov Live and Azattyk, continue to face repression; whereas four journalists from independent investigative media were prosecuted and Makhabat Tazhibek, Azamat Ishenbeko were imprisoned in October 2024;
8. whereas in February 2023, Kyrgyzstan became a member of the UN Human Rights Council; whereas Kyrgyzstan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966;

1. Expresses grave concern about detention and the deteriorating health of Temirlan Sultanbekov and the inadequate response by the Kyrgyz authorities;
2. Considers that the ill-treatment of prisoners, is a crackdown on political and civil rights; Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners detained for their political positions; Calls on the Kyrgyz authorities  ensure full access to political rights and equal treatment to opposition parties and politicians;
3. Calls on the Kyrgyz authorities to respect and uphold fundamental freedoms, in particular human rights, freedom of expression, democracy, and the rule of law, and to strengthen electoral processes in line with the EU-Kyrgyzstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; calls in this regard for civil society activists, journalists, human rights defenders, politicians to be genuinely protected in the exercise of their freedom of expression, of assembly and association, so they can carry out their work without fear of reprisals or legal harassment by the authorities;
4. Calls for the EU institutions, in particular the EU Delegation in Kyrgyzstan, to continue expressing their grave concern over the deterioration of human rights in the country in all their exchanges with the Kyrgyz authorities, and to consider the possibility of proposing sanctions under the EU Magnitsky Act should the situation deteriorate further;
5. Calls on the Commission immediately reassess the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus benefits to the country, given Kyrgyzstan’s commitments under international conventions;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, the Member States, the UN Human Rights Council and the Kyrgyz authorities;