The Kyrgyz Republic’s civil society looks for opportunities in adversity
As funding cuts and legal restrictions hinder the work of civil society in the Kyrgyz Republic, John Smith Fellows are looking for new opportunities for collaboration.
Civil society in the Kyrgyz Republic is in crisis. The legal and political space in which it can operate is shrinking, while cuts in USAID funding threaten the existence of many non-governmental organisations (NGOs). At the same time, the sector faces a legitimacy crisis in the eyes of Kyrgyz citizens as it struggles to connect with communities at a grassroots level.
According to Joldosh Osmonov (Kyrgyzstan, 2017), recent legislation governing NGOs and the media is one factor in the “shrinking of civic space”. Kyrgyzstan’s law on foreign representatives, enacted in April 2024, requires NGOs receiving funding from abroad to register with the government, echoing Russia and Georgia’s “foreign agents” laws. While concerning, Joldosh says that the law is not impacting civil society in the same way as in Russia because it does not impose criminal liability on NGOs and is not fully implemented.
Timur Shaikhutdinov (Kyrgyzstan, 2018) represents a local NGO that promotes police reform and crime prevention. He believes that the law is having an impact. “Many organisations and activists avoid speaking publicly about different problems,” he says. “This law is not fully implemented but is like a sword – a threat that can be used or maybe won’t be used.”
Self-censorship
Independent media is also under pressure from a false information law adopted in 2021. In one recent case Bolot Temirov, an investigative journalist, was expelled from the country. Bloggers, social media activists and ‘akyns’ (traditional storytellers and musicians) are also feeling the pressure.
Ismail Karypov, John Smith Fellow (Kyrgyzstan, 2024) and media expert, notes that self-censorship is a growing trend. “Year by year, we are censoring ourselves,” he says. “It’s not only about the media, it’s also about the people. The akyns are like our first journalists, the first voice of the people and part of our cultural heritage. They sing songs and tell stories about problems and social issues. And recently, one by one, they are being pressured and have started to feel censored themselves.”
USAID cuts
On top of these legislative initiatives, the Trump administration’s drastic cuts to USAID pose a major challenge to civil society in Kyrgyzstan, which received around 80% of its funding from the US.
Timur believes that the sector must look within itself for answers. He says: “We were excessively dependent on international funding, and because of this, we became less understandable to many communities. One of the major issues has been donor orientation. People saw these grants as something coming from outside.
“So maybe the answer is about building new relationships and communication platforms with our public to better understand and be closer to them. While international funding cuts are deeply concerning, I think there is a bright side. It should be a wake-up call for NGOs and civil society to be closer to the grassroots: their local private sector and citizens.
Income opportunities
Joldosh also believes that despite the challenging funding landscape, there are still opportunities. He says: “Some NGOs are thinking of shutting down, but some are saying, ‘We are experts in certain areas. Let’s try to offer our services to those who need them.’
He adds: “Our NGOs are quite experienced and can provide consultancy services. What we are doing right now is helping them to develop. There are commercial services they can offer to the government and the private sector. Some NGOs are working on social entrepreneurship. And crowdfunding among the wider public is now relevant.”
“I don’t think it would make up for all the lost funding, but at least civil society organisations will still be able to generate some income.”
Working with business
As head of the Secretariat of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Investment Council, Uluk Kydyrbaev (Kyrgyzstan, 2011) is responsible for building relationships between the government and the business community. He believes that civil society needs to build better connections with business, although historically this has been challenging.
He says: “I think sometimes the business community had a hard time finding common ground with some civil society organisations because there was a lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication.”
Like Joldosh, he thinks there’s an opportunity for civil society professionals to bring their skills to the private sector. “There is a hunger in the labour force for professional project managers,” he says. “There is a cadre of colleagues who worked for USAID projects who would be welcome in the private sector.”
Although this doesn’t solve the problem of civil society funding, it could create a momentum to develop connections and build understanding between the sectors.
War in Ukraine
Russia’s war on Ukraine has also had far-reaching consequences for independent media and civil society. Ismail says: “The war intensified debates around Russia’s influence in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, prompting many to question historical narratives and reconsider political alliances.
“It has underscored how narratives can be manipulated and how crucial it is for people to have access to reliable, fact-based reporting. Civil society organisations in Kyrgyzstan and beyond have played an essential role in countering misinformation and fostering informed discussions. However, with changes in the US administration and evolving global politics, the media landscape is once again shifting, creating new challenges for independent journalism.”
Ismail also hopes to see more cross-sector collaboration between NGOs, independent media and the private sector. “I’d like to see all three sectors united and helping each other,” he says. “This is what I’m hoping for.”
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