Concern at “Anti-Extremism” Bill

There has been a mixed reaction in Kyrgyzstan to a package of legal amendments that would impose tougher punishments for anyone engaging in extremist activity or calling for the government to be overthrown.



The amendments, which Justice Minister Marat Kayipov submitted as a single bill to parliament on October 16, cover the Criminal Code and a number of other laws that contain sanctions for engaging in or calling for extremism. Kyrgyzstan’s media law, would be changed to make the publication of statements of this kind illegal, and voicing them at demonstrations would also be outlawed.



Anyone found guilty of breaching the ban could face six years in prison.



Justice ministry officials argue that the legal changes are essential if Kyrgyzstan is to preserve its sovereignty and deal effectively with terrorism and extremism. Minister Kayipov, who is behind the proposed changes, says they have nothing to do with an opposition rally planned for November. The bill was actually drafted last year, he said, and modified to take account of comments from members of parliament.



“The bill does not mean freedom of speech will be violated or restricted,” Kayipov told NBCentralAsia.



Some analysts defend the bill, arguing that extremist organisations are becoming more active, especially in southern Kyrgyzstan. “This law is in no way designed to restrict freedom of speech. Its purpose needs to be properly understood,” said political scientist Toktogul Kakchekeev.



However, media figures and political commentators disagree, and say the law is really intended to enable the authorities to take tough action against the opposition. According to member of parliament Kanybek Imanaliev, the government wants to limit the opposition’s freedom of action ahead of the upcoming rally, for which preparations are said to be under way already.



Shamaral Maichiev, who heads the National Legal Corporation, says the law will be used selectively to target media outlets which criticise the authorities.



The day after the bill was put to parliament, police in Bishkek arrested three members of the Forum of Young Politicians who were posting up posters advertising the demonstration. The three, together with flyers saying, “We await changes on November 2”, were handed over to the police department responsible for combating extremism.



The Forum of Young Politicians does not believe the arrests were a direct consequence of the justice minister’s bill, but Jarkynbek Kasymbekov, one of those detained, told NBCentralAsia that the proposed measures were “a mechanism allowing the authorities to prevent dissident and opposition activity".



(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region.)