09:52, 04 апреля 2024, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Aibek SULTANOV
The head of the department of the Presidential Executive Office, Murat Ukushev, commented on the package of amendments to the Law «On Non-Profit Organizations» signed by the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov.
He explained why the document was approved. Should the state control financial flows that are entering the country through the non-profit sector?
According to Murat Ukushev, it should, and he explained why.
«In the last two years, there has been a heated discussion in Kyrgyzstan on a topic directly related to the protection of the legitimate interests of the Kyrgyz state — how much control the state can and should have over the activities of non-profit organizations funded by foreign states or with foreign participation,» he explained.
The point is that the Kyrgyz state, as it is supposed to do by its status, intends to control where the money comes from to these NGOs, for what purposes and how it is spent.
Murat Ukushev
The lawyer believes that NGOs initially met the amendments proposed by MP Nadira Narmatova with extreme hostility as they «fear real control by the state of how and for what purposes foreign taxpayers’ money is spent.»
«International organizations such as the European Union, UNDP, OSCE, USAID, the Embassies of the European Union and the United States and other donors of Kyrgyz NGOs and media, deputies and politicians of foreign countries have joined the criticism of the bills. Criticizing these actions of the state in defense of their legitimate interests, they constantly refer to the democratic standards supposedly in force in the reference democratic countries of the European Union and the United States. Meanwhile, the adopted document is based on the concepts of the relevant laws in force in these countries,» he reminded.
Murat Ukushev explained why Kyrgyzstan needs the Law «On Non-Profit Organizations» in the form in which it was signed by the President.
The document is aimed at ensuring openness and publicity of the activities of NGOs performing the functions of a foreign representative. These are NGOs involved in political activities, including in the interests of foreign sources.
Murat Ukushev
He explained what should be understood by political activity.
«This is activity in the spheres of state structure, protection of the foundations of the constitutional system of the country, protection of sovereignty and ensuring territorial integrity, legality, law and order, state and public security, defense, foreign policy, socio-economic and national development,» the representative of the Executive Office of the head of state said.
He outlined the forms of political activity:
Political activity does not include:
The Ministry of Justice will compile a register of NGOs with the status of foreign representatives.
Under the law, state bodies — the Ministry of Justice and the Tax Service — will be able to:
As Murat Ukushev emphasizes, the adopted law does not prohibit the activities of non-profit organizations, including those performing the functions of a foreign representative.
There are no prohibitions on financing from foreign sources.
Murat Ukushev