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(Bishkek, June 9, 2023) - The Kyrgyz parliament should reject a highly repressive draft law that would interfere with the activities of nongovernmental organizations, Human Rights Watch said today. The law would require organizations to register with the Justice Ministry as "foreign representatives" if they receive funding from abroad and engage in political activity. On May 19, 2023, parliament members registered Making Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic for consideration, known as the draft law on "Foreign Representatives." Failure to register under the law could result in suspension of the organization's activities, including its banking operations, for up to 6 months or until it is registered. This requirement is clearly intended to discredit and stigmatize groups that receive foreign funding and could have a chilling effect on the country's civil society at a time when it is already under attack. "The draft law is incompa