Kyrgyzstan closes doors to external influence Sovereignty without compromise

The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, has supported the Trump administration's intentions to shut down "Radio Free Europe" and "Voice of America." Meanwhile, proposals have emerged in the Kazakhstani parliament to grant "foreign agent" status to organizations funded from abroad.

Not-free radio

Following recent statements by Musk regarding these American radio stations, the national news agency "Kabar" interviewed the President of Kyrgyzstan. Back in December 2024, Sadyr Japarov criticized U.S. assistance to the so-called "third sector." The Kyrgyz president had stated, "If you don't know where to spend the money, send it to us directly, to the government. We will ensure democracy and human rights at the highest level." Now, journalists from "Kabar" asked Japarov whether Donald Trump and Elon Musk were simply echoing his position. The President of Kyrgyzstan responded that Trump and Musk did not need his initiatives and that it was merely a coincidence.

However, as we can see, the coincidence is quite significant. In the United States, it was former Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, now the special envoy of President Trump for special assignments, who first stated that these American radio stations, created during the Cold War, are a "relic of the past." After that, billionaire Elon Musk, appointed by Trump as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said that these stations are no longer listened to, yet they burn a billion dollars a year from American taxpayers' pockets.

In the opinion of the President of Kyrgyzstan, "Azattyk" often publishes distorted information. Sadyr Japarov is dissatisfied with the work of "Azattyk" and, in this context, agrees with Elon Musk's proposal to shut down such projects.

Sadyr Japarov considers the funding of "Azattyk" to be a waste of American taxpayers' money. The funds previously allocated by the U.S. to support "civil society" in Kyrgyzstan have been substantial. From 2017 to 2020, for instance, the National Endowment for Democracy alone transferred $8,471,614 to Kyrgyz NGOs, journalists, and bloggers. "The people no longer need 'Azattyk' news," the Kyrgyz president stated. Japarov also pointed out the technical obsolescence of radio stations in the Internet age. Although these outlets primarily distribute their information online now, Japarov believes that people today have high levels of media literacy and are able to distinguish truth from fiction.

"Is the spread of false information or news manipulation freedom of speech?" the President of Kyrgyzstan asked. "One should not confuse permissiveness with freedom of speech or human rights. Therefore, Trump's and Musk's decisions should be supported."

Foreign intelligence services and Kyrgyzstan’s Hyde Park

However, despite all the bold statements from Elon Musk, it is still too early to say what the actual policy of the new administration will be in other countries. The "Kabar" agency also points to the still contradictory direction of the new agenda in this area. For example, regarding the infamous U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), there were initially very harsh statements, but the position was later somewhat softened. Initially, Musk directly called this de facto branch of American intelligence services a "criminal organization." He stated, it's “been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision."

How does this look in numbers? Media and NGO funding in Kyrgyzstan through USAID in 2024 amounted to $11.09 million. Attempts to stir up the situation in Kyrgyzstan, including under the pretext of "violating freedom of speech," were made earlier as well. In February last year, 11 journalists and bloggers were detained for two days by law enforcement. In response to accusations of violating the freedom to express opinions, President Japarov stated that only those who spread false information, attempted to slander, and destabilize the situation were detained. From those who justly criticize the authorities and expose corrupt individuals, the state only benefits. According to the President of Kyrgyzstan, such citizens can speak about shortcomings and bribers, either online or publicly in Gorky Park, thus helping to cleanse the system. Gorky Park is a place in Bishkek where citizens can freely hold rallies and meetings, also referred to as the local "Hyde Park."

Without foreign patronage

Last year, a law was passed in Kyrgyzstan to establish certain control over the activities of "foreign representations" (the softened term "foreign agents"), i.e., NGOs. The country is among the leaders in the region in terms of their number, with over 24,000 registered in 2024. At the same time, many government institutions replenished their funding through foreign NGOs, including schools and hospitals.

Certainly, there has been considerable real assistance as well. One such example is the protection of women's rights within the framework of the Beijing Platform for Action. Currently, Kyrgyzstan is hosting a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence, organized by the state-run Republican Center for Strengthening Health and Mass Communication, the public organization "Crisis Center 'Sezim,'" UNICEF, and other organizations. However, the specificity of foreign influence through NGOs and dependent media lies in the fact that good deeds are often mixed with attempts to establish control over sovereign states, or even to conduct subversive activities against the government. 

Many in the republic have long believed that the overall situation with the active operations of NGOs, which are essentially unaccountable, is abnormal. However, the adoption of the law on "foreign representations" met with strong opposition from certain circles and stretched over nearly ten years. The bill was first introduced in the Kyrgyz parliament back in 2014 but was rejected in 2016. After the law on the accountability of foreign-funded NGOs was finally passed, Kyrgyzstan faced a wave of criticism from abroad. In response, President Sadyr Japarov appealed to then U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking him not to interfere in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs. Most importantly, a similar law on the registration of foreign agents (FARA) was adopted in the United States as early as 1938.

Recently, a proposal to adopt a foreign agents law was also raised in the Kazakh parliament. The initiative was put forward by the People's Party of Kazakhstan (PPK). PPK deputy Irina Smirnova mentioned the Azattyk radio station, noting that there was no mention on its website of the construction of new schools, roads, or the achievements of Kazakhstanis—only criticism and the fostering of negative attitudes toward the government. Responding to questions from journalists, some of whom were already negatively inclined toward the proposal, the deputy clarified that the model would not be based on the similar law in Russia but on the U.S. foreign agents legislation.

Soon after, a petition was published on the ePetition.kz platform, calling for the closure of the USAID office in Kazakhstan.

In recent years, foreign agent laws have been adopted in various countries with different political regimes and geopolitical preferences. In 2004, such a bill was passed in Zimbabwe, setting an example for Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda. In 2012, the foreign agent law came into effect in Russia. Similar measures were then adopted in a number of countries, from Mexico to China, and from Hungary to Israel. In total, more than 60 countries worldwide have passed laws aiming to make foreign funding for NGOs more transparent. Probably the latest to adopt such a law was Georgia, where last year the "Foreign Influence Transparency Act" came into force, almost verbatim copied from the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

The recent initiatives in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan point to one clear conclusion—the growing desire of these countries to strengthen their sovereignty and independence, to be free from any foreign interference in their internal affairs, no matter how appealing the rhetoric may be.