Representatives of civil society and the media appealed to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Kyrgyzstan Olivier Bangerter with a request not to issue a Schengen visa to ex-deputies of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan Gulshat Asylbaeva and Ainura Osmonova.
They reminded the head of the diplomatic mission that they both are the authors of the discriminatory Law on protection against inaccurate (false) information, directed against independent media. The blocking of Azattyk and Respublika websites and the partial blocking of 24.kg news agency’s website are proof of this.
«The main problem of the current Law on protection against inaccurate (false) information is that its provisions grossly violate the fundamental principles of law — equality of parties and proportionality of punishment. Adoption of this document was one of the reasons for the sharp decline in the rating of Kyrgyzstan in terms of freedom of speech,» the appeal says.
The activists explained: there was information that Gulshat Asylbaeva applied to the visa center of the Swiss Embassy.
«We believe that she probably submitted documents to you for a visa. In this connection, we ask you to confirm or refute the information about obtaining a visa by this citizen of Kyrgyzstan and consider the refusal to issue and extend the term of any types of visas not only for Gulshat Asylbaeva, but also for Ainura Osmonova as the initiators of this bill, as well as for members of their families. We consider it unacceptable that officials and deputies, initiating such bills that restrict the rights to freedom of speech, opinion, association not only of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, but also of foreigners, at the same time do not deny themselves visiting your countries, starting a business, acquiring real estate, as well as send their children and relatives to study, rest, for the permanent residence,» the letter says.
The discriminatory document was adopted by the sixth convocation after a tea party with the president in violation of all procedures of the regulations.
Sadyr Japarov signed the Law on protection against inaccurate (false) information on August 23, 2021.
