Experts from the international organization Freedom for Eurasia criticized the regulations on small state grants for nonprofit organizations and other civil society institutions.

According to the document, the Department of Presidential Affairs will give grants to NGOs that support the incumbent authorities and help discredit «dishonest NGOs» that undermine the credibility of the president and the Cabinet of Ministers by criticizing them.

Freedom for Eurasia experts say that an analysis of the draft provision and the accompanying background statement shows that instead of seeking optimum and effective forms of partnership and cooperation with civil society, the government is pursuing a policy of confrontation with unwanted NGOs and formation of loyal organizations by bribing them.

«The chosen mechanism for distributing state grants copies the negative Russian experience, as a result of which the non-governmental sector found itself completely dependent on the Russian presidential administration, and independent NGOs were persecuted and, for the most part, stopped working or left the country. This path is unacceptable for Kyrgyzstan. On the contrary, we must make every effort to improve the institutions of civil society in Kyrgyzstan, to support the initiatives and activities of NGOs, the media, the full enforcement of the right of association, freedom of speech and assembly,» analysts of the international organization say.

Human rights activists urge the initiators of the draft provision to reconsider the biased attitude towards civil society, organize a broad dialogue and choose strategic directions of joint activities.