4. Politics and Security
Reiter
KEEP IN MIND
- Kyrgyzstan works to improve the human rights situation
- A multi-party system, separation of powers and legal protection are among the efforts; progress in the judicial system is evident, but more work is needed for comprehensive development
- Democratic development is underway, as indicated by the political indices
- Ethnic tensions, such as the Kyrgyz-Tajik border conflict, complicate democratic normalization due to political instability
- Security is affected by instability, ethnic tensions, organized crime and occasional terrorism
- Geographical location favours crime; water scarcity leads to
Human Rights
Despite many challenges, Kyrgyzstan is working to improve its human rights record after years of being part of the authoritarian Soviet Union. These efforts include the introduction of a multi-party system, the principle of separation of powers, and the protection of human and civil rights. The evolution toward democracy is not yet complete in Kyrgyzstan, as reflected in various political indices. For example, according to the FreedomHouse report (2022), Kyrgyzstan is classified as a "consolidated authoritarian regime". It cites problems related to ethnic tensions and political instability as the main challenge to future democratic normalization.
Nevertheless, there have been gradual improvements in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in the area of the judiciary. This progress can be seen, for example, in the reforms to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and to better protect human rights. However, much work remains to be done to further consolidate the human rights situation and achieve comprehensive democratic development. Particular attention should be paid to promoting political stability, addressing ethnic tensions and strengthening democratic institutions to support Kyrgyzstan on its path to becoming a robust liberal democracy.
Index | Score |
Corruption Perceptions Index (2022) | Score: 27/100 |
Global Freedom Score by Freedomhouse (2022) | Score: 27/100 |
Democracy score (2022) | Score: 11/100 Democracy Percentage: 11.31% |
Freedom of Press by Reporters without Borders (2022) | Score: 64.25/100 |
Explanations of Indices and data sources:
Corruption Perceptions Index:
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is the most widely used corruption ranking worldwide. It measures the level of corruption in the public sector of each country. This video explains the CPI in more detail (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrvwxAHxu4k) For more information click here (https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022)
Freedomhouse Freedom Score:
Freedom in the World evaluates the rights and freedoms of individuals, not governments or the performance of governments per se.
Whether political rights and civil liberties can be exercised depends not only on state actors and institutions, but also on nonstate actors, insurgents, or other armed groups.
For more information click here (https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom- world/2023/marking-50-year
Freedomhouse Democracy Score:
Nations in Transit assesses the State of Democracy in the Region from Central Europe to Central Asia. The ranking takes into account the following aspects: National Democratic Governance, Electoral Process, Civil Society, Independent Media, Local Democratic Governance, Judicial Framework and Independence and Corruption.
For more information click here (https://freedomhouse.org/report/nations- transit/2023/war-deepens-regional-divide)
Reporter ohne Grenzen, Freedom of the Press Ranking:
The annual Reporters Without Borders ranking compares press freedom in 180 countries. The committee defines press freedom as “the ability of media professionals, as individuals and collectively, to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest, independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and without threat to their physical and psychological safety."
Points are awarded between 0-100, whereby
85-100 good situation
70-85 satisfactory situation
55-70 identifiable problems
40-55 difficult situation
0-40 very serious situation
For more information click here (https://www.reporter-ohne-grenzen.de/rangliste/rangliste- 2023)
Security state
Kyrgyzstan's security is complexly affected by political instability, ethnic tensions, organized crime and occasional terrorism. The political scene has had upheavals such as protests and changes in government, which fosters social unrest. Historical tensions
Political System
The political system of Kyrgyzstan was a parliamentary republic and has recently been reformed to a hyper-presidential republic like the other Central Asian states. Under the constitution of 2010, the president was the head of state and represented the country externally. The head of government, appointed by the president, was responsible for executive power. The Parliament consisted of two chambers: the Jogorku Kengesh (Legislative Council) and the Sabyr Kengesh (National Assembly). The Djogorku Kengesh, the lower house, was elected every five years and is responsible for legislation. The Sabyr-Kengesh, the upper house, represents regional interests. The political environment in Kyrgyzstan was dynamic and characterized by diverse parties, which leads to political variety. Therefore, the country has been viewed as an island of democracy in Central Asian sea of autocratic systems. However, the country was never a fully functioning liberal democracy and the recent reform of the political system, which empowered the president and weakened the parliament put an end to the Kyrgyz exceptionalism.
Government and Opposition
The political dynamics in Kyrgyzstan was reflected in the relationship between the government and the opposition. The government was formed by the strongest party in parliament. The president, as head of state appointed by the people, chose the prime minister, who exercised executive power. These institutions direct the administration, policy- making and foreign policy. The opposition consisted of various groups outside the government. It played a crucial role in monitoring government activity by critically questioning political decisions and offering alternative perspectives. This promoted democratic transparency and accountability. The opposition acted as a corrective and ensured the balance of power. Kyrgyzstan's political landscape has been shaped by protests and movements led by the opposition that have driven change. A balanced relationship between government and opposition was critical to foster constructive political dialogue, ensure between ethnic groups can cause security problems, despite government efforts towards harmony. Geographical location favors crime such as drug trafficking. Although terrorism is rare, instability and extremism may gain adherents. Long, hard-to-monitor borders encourage smuggling. The government is strengthening law enforcement and cooperation to promote security, but the situation requires continuous monitoring and action. Under the new constitutions, the relationship between government and opposition will most likely change and the system of checks and balances might work less effective.
Kyrgyz-Tajik Conflict
Errors in border demarcation during the Soviet Union have led to territorial disputes in the post-Soviet space, particularly in Central Asia, which is reflected in inter-ethnic relations today. Tens of thousands of disputed territories encumber the borders of post-Soviet republics, as in the case of the Tajik exclave of Voruch, which is claimed by both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The problem of conflict resolution lies in the fact that both countries refer to different historical maps. The issue of water also plays an important role, as there is a shortage of water in this agricultural region during the irrigation season, which leads to conflicts. The planned transfer of the Isfara River by Kyrgyz authorities would not only worry the inhabitants of Voruch, but also affect the agricultural land in Isfara and Kanibadam, which is irrigated by the same river.
Quiz on Kyrgyz Politics