The Open Society Foundations founded by George Soros announced the closure of its fund in Kyrgyzstan, according to Trend.
As the organisation explained, the decision was made in response to a new law that introduced broad restrictions on the activities of local organisations funded from international sources.
The Open Society Foundations established the Soros-Kyrgyzstan Fund in 1993. Over the past three decades, the fund has allocated over $115 million to support various projects in the country, co-operating with both the government and civil society. The foundation has sponsored projects in education, public health, digital technology, legal aid and other areas.
The new law cited by the organisation was signed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on April 2. It aims to regulate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country. According to the amendments, non-profit organisations receiving funding from abroad will be included in a special register.
Zhaparov stated that the country needed accountability and transparency among NGOs, emphasising concerns about the potential misuse of funds by NGOs that had been operating in the country for decades without registration. The President also assured that there would be no persecution of NGOs, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparency.
