Human rights in Kyrgyzstan

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Politics of Kyrgyzstan
CIS Member State
Constitution
Executive President Sadyr Japarov Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov
Legislative Supreme Council President Talant Mamytov
Elections Recent elections Presidential: 2011 2017 2021 2026 Parliamentary: 2010 2015 2020 2021 Referendums: 2010 2016 2021 (Jan) 2021 (Apr) Political parties Politicians
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Ruslan Kazakbayev Diplomatic missions of / in Kyrgyzstan Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Related topics Human rights Administrative divisions (regions districts) Tulip Revolution (2005) Second revolution (2010) Third revolution (2020)
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Human rights in Kyrgyzstan improved after the ouster of President Askar Akayev in the 2005 Tulip Revolution and the installment of a more democratic government under Roza Otunbayeva.^[1] While the country is performing well compared to other states in Central Asia, many human rights violations still take place. While LGBT rights have been declining in recent years,^[2] freedom of press has been improving.^[3]

The democratic performance of the country has been declining since 2014.^[4] Corruption is still an issue in the country although it has been steadily declining since 2008.^[5]

Formerly a republic of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991. Remaining reasonably stable throughout most of the 1990s, the country's young democracy showed relative promise under the leadership of Akayev,^[6] but moved towards autocracy and authoritarianism by the early 2000s, achieving a 5.5 rating from Freedom House in 2000.^[7] In 2020 the country is considered "partly free" by Freedom House with a score of 39 out of 100.^[8]

In 2004, prior to the democratic revolution, Kyrgyzstan was rated by Freedom House as "Not Free," with a 6 in Political Rights and 5 in Civil Liberties (scale of 1-7; 1 is the highest). This indicated marked regression, from a 4.3 rating a decade earlier in 1994. Although the 1993 Constitution defines the Kyrgyz Republic as a democratic republic, President Askar Akayev continued to dominate the government. Serious irregularities reportedly marred 2003 a national constitutional referendum as well as presidential and parliamentary elections in 2000.^[7]