Kyrgyzstan
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
27 / 100
Not Free
Internet Freedom
52 / 100
Partly Free
Nations in Transit
11 / 100
After two revolutions that ousted authoritarian presidents in 2005 and 2010, Kyrgyzstan adopted a parliamentary form of government. Governing coalitions proved unstable, however, and corruption remains pervasive. Unrest surrounding the annulled 2020 parliamentary elections led to significant political upheaval and the violent repression of opponents of nationalist politician Sadyr Japarov.
Research & Recommendations
Kyrgyzstan
Not Free
27
100
| PR Political Rights | 4 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 23 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
27
100
Not Free
Global freedom statuses are calculated on a weighted scale.
See the methodology.
Overview
After two revolutions that ousted authoritarian presidents in 2005 and 2010, Kyrgyzstan adopted a parliamentary form of government. Governing coalitions proved unstable, however, and corruption remains pervasive. Unrest surrounding the annulled 2020 parliamentary elections led to significant political upheaval and the violent repression of opponents of nationalist politician Sadyr Japarov. Major constitutional changes adopted in 2021 significantly increased presidential authority, concentrating political power in the presidency and reducing the size and role of the parliament. Both the judiciary and vigilante violence are increasingly used to suppress political opponents and civil society critics.
Freedom in the World 2024 Policy Recommendations
Provide steady support and flexible funding to those on the front lines of the struggle against tyranny.
Democratic governments and donors must increase and sustain support for those working to defend and promote fundamental freedoms around the world. Failure to do so emboldens autocrats and can result in the loss of hard-won progress.
Uphold the rights of people living in disputed territories.
The events of the past year in places such as Nagorno-Karabakh and the Gaza Strip provided stark evidence that populations without self-determination are at greater risk of extreme human rights abuses or atrocities.
Protect free and fair elections in 2024.
At least 40 countries are holding national-level elections in 2024, and many more will conduct other types of balloting. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of any democracy, and independent and transparent electoral processes are necessary to foster genuine competition and public trust.
Kyrgyzstan
Partly Free
52
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 16 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 20 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 16 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
53
100
Partly Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the research methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom worsened in Kyrgyzstan during the coverage period. The government enforced the Law on Protection from False Information, which was enacted during the previous coverage period, to block news sites and force online news outlets to remove content. Radio Azattyk, the Kyrgyzstan service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was blocked after it posted a video depicting border clashes between the militaries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Ministry of Culture also tried to shut down the outlet; the parties reached a settlement after the coverage period. Courts also issued prison sentences to journalists and social media users who criticized the government online and deported Bolot Temirov, a prominent investigative journalist. In a positive development, internet access continued to improve, according to some measurement sources.
Freedom on the Net 2023 Policy Recommendations
Promote freedom of expression and access to information.
Freedom of expression online is increasingly under attack as governments continue to restrict connectivity and block social media platforms and websites that host political, social, and religious speech. Protecting freedom of expression will require strong legal and regulatory safeguards.
Defend information integrity in the age of AI.
Even before the new wave of generative artificial intelligence (AI) products, AI was a key factor in the crisis of information integrity, serving as an intensifier in environments that were already vulnerable to manipulation. However, advancements in generative AI will supercharge the creation and dissemination of false and misleading content.
Combat disproportionate government surveillance.
Governments worldwide have passed increasingly disproportionate surveillance laws, and can access a booming commercial market for surveillance tools, giving them the capacity to flout the rule of law and monitor the private communications of individuals inside and beyond their borders.
Kyrgyzstan
11
100
| DEMOCRACY-PERCENTAGE Democracy Percentage | 10.71 100 |
| DEMOCRACY-SCORE Democracy Score | 1.64 7 |
Last Year's Democracy Percentage & Status
11
100
The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 1 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The Democracy Percentage, introduced in 2020, is a translation of the Democracy Score to the 0-100 scale, where 0 equals least democratic and 100 equals most democratic.
See the methodology.
Overview
In 2023, authoritarianism persisted in Kyrgyzstan as the government pursued repressive policies. President Sadyr Japarov and his close ally, Head of the State Committee of National Security (GKNB) Kamchybek Tashiyev, consolidated power in the executive branch, undermining the balance of power and the system of checks and balances. Despite facing continued repression and harassment, Kyrgyzstan’s most vibrant democratic institutions, civil society and independent media, remained resilient by continuing their work and bringing attention to the government’s repressive measures.
Nations in Transit 2024 Policy Recommendations
Ensure that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is soundly defeated.
The future of European democracy and security is now inextricably linked to the fate of Ukraine. European Union (EU) and NATO member states must not only invest far more—and more efficiently—in their collective defense, but also provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to roll back Russian advances and build a durable democracy of its own.
Support democratic renewal and reform.
In addition to defending the international order from emboldened autocrats, democratic governments must attend to democratic renewal within Europe, particularly among nascent democracies.
Provide consistent messaging and support to Europe’s aspiring democracies.
Military aggression from autocracies in the region has underscored the dangers of exclusion from democracy-based organizations like the EU and NATO, galvanizing the political will of policymakers in aspiring member states and generating further public pressure to undertake long-sought democratic reforms.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Global Freedom Score
27
/ 100
Not Free
Internet Freedom Score
52
/ 100
Partly Free
Nations in Transit Score
11
/ 100
Population: 6,975,000
Internet Facts
Status
Partly Free
Networks Restricted
No
Social Media Blocked
No
Websites Blocked
Yes
Pro-government Commentators
Yes
Users Arrested
Yes
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
November 28, 2021
Type of Election
Parliamentary
Internet Penetration
42%
Election Year
2021
Vulnerability Index
44
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked