FIDH representatives intended to participate in the International Documentary Film Festival on Human Rights Bir Duino, which took place in Bishkek from December 12 to 16, as well as to hold a series of meetings with members of civil society, independent journalists, and staff from diplomatic missions.
According to FIDH, the delegation was not given the opportunity to seek consular or legal assistance. After a brief interrogation, the members of the delegation were sent back to Turkey, from where they had arrived.
The delegation included Ilya Nuzov, the director of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia department, press secretary Rafael Lopukhin, and another staff member whose name is not disclosed for security reasons.
Ilya Nuzov reported that he was also banned from entering Kyrgyzstan for five years.
“I believe that this decision has no legal basis and is likely related to the fact that FIDH has been designated as an 'undesirable organization' in Russia, which may indicate pressure from that country on Kyrgyzstan to limit our cooperation with local partners, including Bir Duino. The fact that the Kyrgyz authorities are yielding to this pressure raises serious concerns for the human rights movement in the country,” he noted.
Rafael Lopukhin added that what happened raises concerns primarily for the safety of human rights defenders and journalists in Kyrgyzstan.
“Our visit was not only about participating in the Bir Duino festival but also a demonstration of solidarity with human rights defenders and journalists working in difficult conditions. The entry ban only strengthens our resolve to continue human rights work and support our colleagues in Kyrgyzstan,” he emphasized.
FIDH plans to address the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to request clarification of the reasons for the decision made.
