Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a controversial new law Wednesday that grants the legislative branch broader powers while reducing public consultation on legislation, further consolidating authority in the hands of the president.
The law, passed by parliament last month, cuts the minimum period for public discussion of proposed legislation from 30 days to 15, with the possibility of shortening it further to 10 days. It also allows certain bills—such as those related to national security, state secrets, or Constitutional Court rulings—to bypass public consultation altogether.
Additionally, bills deemed “urgent” by the president or the head of the Cabinet of Ministers can now be fast-tracked through parliament.
Under Japarov’s leadership, Kyrgyzstan—once considered Central Asia’s most democratic country—has seen increasing restrictions on transparency.
Since taking office in 2020, Japarov has overseen sweeping constitutional changes that have significantly expanded presidential power, weakened impeachment mechanisms, and curtailed access to government information. Critics have dubbed the new constitution the “Khanstitution,” in referencing a move toward autocratic rule. Khan means king in the local language.
A key provision in the new law allows the president to implement something called “temporary legal regulation of new public relations” for up to one year. It is unclear what this really means as details remain vague. Critics warn it is open to interpretation and effectively permits the executive branch to override existing legislation without parliamentary approval.
“There is a danger here that anything can be called ‘new public relations,’ and it doesn’t matter whether we have a constitution or constitutional laws—the decree can be seen as superior to any law. There is such a risk,” lawmaker Dastan Bekeshev warned on his Telegram channel.
Something like this occurred last year when the Constitutional Court ruled that children could adopt their mother’s surname instead of their father’s. The ruling was initially celebrated as a progressive step, but days later, the head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Security Service, a close ally of Japarov, publicly opposed the ruling.
The administration swiftly introduced a bill allowing the president to order reviews of Constitutional Court rulings—previously considered final and beyond appeal. Parliament passed the bill soon after.
The new legislative changes have sparked concern among opposition figures and civil society groups, who argue they undermine democratic principles and concentrate excessive power in the presidency. While the government insists the reforms are necessary for efficiency and national stability, critics see them as another step in Kyrgyzstan’s shift away from democratic governance.
