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PRESS RELEASE. “ON JUNE 1ST 2020, AT 10 A.M., A COURT SESSION ON THE LAWSUIT OF AZIMZHAN ASKAROV AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC”.

On 1 June 2020, at 10 a.m., a preliminary hearing will be held in the administrative court of Bishkek (64 Ibraimova St., tel: 0312 681390, 622731) to consider the administrative claim of Azimzhan Askarov against the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. On 11 May 2020, the trial did not take place due to the reorganization of the Inter-district courts in accordance with the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic dated 11 April 2020 “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic”.  

STOP DISCRIMINATION AND NARROWING THE SPACE FOR NGOS IN KYRGYZSTAN!

Parliamentary hearings were scheduled to be conducted on 22 May 2020, at 10 a.m. Only 60 NGOs were selectively invited to the hearings. Most of them were CSOs (GONGOs (government-organized non-governmental organizations)), cooperating with politicians and sharing the opinion that only those NGOs should be controlled by the state, which supposedly destroy traditional values and threaten the development of the country. Active NGO sector leaders, human rights experts, experts on the freedom of association, as well as leaders of regional NGOs that work extensively with local communities were not on the list of those invited to the parliamentary hearings (or were deleted from it).

The Human Rights Movement “Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan” together with the solidarity network calls on deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic to withdraw the draft law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Amending Some Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic

The Human Rights Movement: Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan and partners of the solidarity network call on the deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh to withdraw the draft law of the Kyrgyz Republic «On Introducing Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic (the Laws of the Kyrgyz Republic on non-commercial organizations and on state registration of legal entities, branches (representative offices))» initiated by the Jogorku Kenesh Committee on Social Issues, Education, Science, Culture and Health.

LGBTI+ IN THE REGION OF CENTRAL ASIA: REPRESSION, DISCRIMINATION, EXCLUSION

The main condition in compliance with Human Rights principles should be non-discriminatory realisation of all the rights of each person. Many members of the community view law enforcement officers as the main threat to their personal safety, life, and health. LGBTI+ people frequently become repeat victims of violence, threats, extortion, and blackmail and are under constant pressure from police officers, who threaten to out them. Operational activities, which are periodically conducted in most countries in the region, keep LGBTI+ people in a state of ongoing stress and fear. The creation of special lists violates the rights of LGBTI+ people and makes them an easy target for persecution and humiliation.

ITUC Global COVID-19 Survey: Global gaps in adequate provision of PPE and preparation of safe workplaces to protect workers from spread of Covid-19 in spotlight

As lockdowns are eased in some countries with partial re-openings of workplaces, government and employer preparations to protect workers from Covid-19 as they return to work are in the spotlight. Trade unions from just one in five (21%) countries would rate the measures that are in place to protect workers from the spread of the virus at work as good. Most (54% or 58 countries) would rate these protections as fair. Twenty-six countries (24%) would rate the protections as poor.

Workers Go Hungry As Central Asia's Largest Bazaar Stands Empty

Central Asia's largest bazaar has been closed for a month now, causing hunger and poverty for some 50,000 people in Bishkek who worked there before COVID-19 struck. Some of these people live on-site in shipping containers, while others live at an informal shantytown on a garbage dump near the giant marketplace in the Kyrgyz capital.

ODIHR Director very concerned about decision to uphold life sentence for Azimjan Askarov WARSAW 13 May 2020

“I call on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to implement the UN Human Rights Committee decision and free Mr Askarov, in line with the country’s international human rights obligations.”  

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC EXAMINED THE CASSATION APPEAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AZIMZHAN ASKAROV

Prior to the trial, the defense side was subjected to pressure and threats of aggressive groups both outside the building of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic and in the courtroom. They insulted and threatened the lawyers, the wife of Askarov, Khadicha Askarova, and employees of Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan, using hate speech and discrimination.

Urgent Aid to Rural Hospitals in Tajikistan

Tajikistan's doctors and nurses are in urgent need of your help. This week, Tajikistan was hit by the novel Coronavirus. On April 29, there were only 15 registered cases. Today, a week later, there are 461 people infected, with 12 fatalities. These are the official statistics. Tajikistan is a country of 9 million people, with an average wage of $40/month. A single kit of medical protective gear (suit, gloves, goggles) costs $30-50.  Many doctors are quarantined inside the hospitals. They urgently need protective suits, antiseptics and medical equipment like ventilators, as cases increase 25% daily.

SARDOBA DAM COLLAPSE – ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF UZBEKISTAN’S ‘OLD WAYS’?

Approximately 70,000 people have been evacuated leaving flooded homes and fields behind, with many livelihoods now in ruins. The reservoir, which was built from 2010 to 2017, contained 922 million cubic meters of water intended for irrigation in the Syrdarya and Jizzakh regions. There are now serious questions to be asked as to why a dam that was completed a mere three years ago could have been so seriously defective.