Human Rights Watch appeals to President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov

The human rights organization Human Rights Watch published a letter to the President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov.

In a letter on behalf of the organization, Hugh Williamson, Executive Director of HRW Division for Europe and Central Asia, made recommendations for improving the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan.

«During your campaign you noted that your goal as president will be «to create a state where human rights are respected, on democratic principles.» We encourage you to stand by these campaign pledges, and to do so by addressing the following human rights concerns as a matter of priority, in accordance with the international human rights norms that Kyrgyzstan has voluntarily ratified,» HRW stressed.

In particular, the human rights defenders recommend:

• Address election shortcomings;
• Stop the crackdown on critical media;
• Provide accountability for June 2010-related abuses;
• Free Azimzhan Askarov;
• Reaffirm the importance of civil society;
• End torture;
• Robustly implement Kyrgyzstan’s new domestic violence law;
• End discrimination of LGBT people;
• Ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.