Rinat Tukhvathsin is a human rights defender, journalist, and a founder of Kloop Media.
Human rights defenders (HRDs) in Kyrgyzstan are subjected to smear campaigns, attacks, intimidation, and harassment. Although there are no laws in place which directly target the work of HRDs, the legal system still does not offer protection for HRDs due to consistent corruption at all levels of government, the continuous practice of ill-treatment and torture with impunity, and the lack of independence of monitoring and oversight bodies.
The authorities are slow to comply with laws that guarantee the right to access information, public participation, and to monitor state affairs. This results in a lack of tolerance for the work of HRDs who are often accused of promoting and acting for the interests of foreign states and institutions, and therefore compromising national security and betraying Kyrgyzstan’s national interests and values.
