IBC Calls for Stronger Guarantees to Protect Business and Investors in Kyrgyzstan

On June 16, 2026, the Executive Director of the International Business Council (IBC), Askar Sydykov, took part in a meeting of the Advisory Council for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs and Investors under the Prosecutor General's Office of the Kyrgyz Republic, chaired by Zalkarbek Aknazarov, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting was also attended by Mederbek Aliyev, First Deputy Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh, representatives of the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Prosecutor General's Office, and other government bodies and business associations. Speaking on behalf of the business community, Askar Sydykov welcomed the continued work of the Advisory Council and highlighted the importance of this platform for strengthening dialogue between government bodies and the business sector. "It is critically important for business to have a permanent and effective platform where systemic issues concerning the protection of entrepreneurs' and investors' rights can be openly discussed. We welcome the resumption of active work by the Advisory Council and are ready to participate in implementing decisions aimed at improving the country's investment and business climate," said Askar Sydykov. During the meeting, the IBC presented a number of proposals developed by the business community. In particular, it proposed strengthening oversight of compliance with legislative requirements in the drafting and adoption of regulatory legal acts, including adherence to public discussion deadlines, conducting regulatory impact analysis (RIA), and ensuring full participation of business representatives in the lawmaking process. Special attention was drawn to the need to assess draft regulatory legal acts for compliance with the principles of fair competition and a market economy. The IBC also raised the issue of the practice of enforcing certain prosecutorial response acts that impose additional obligations on business entities. It was noted that business representatives regularly raise questions regarding the feasibility of certain requirements and their compliance with current legislation. As part of the discussion on protecting entrepreneurs from unwarranted pressure by law enforcement agencies, the IBC proposed conducting an analysis of the economic damage caused to the country's economy as a result of unlawful criminal prosecutions, unjustified detentions, pretrial custody, document seizures, and other actions that negatively affect business operations. In addition, the need for further implementation of decrees issued by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic aimed at protecting entrepreneurs' property rights was emphasized, including the introduction of the "single investigative body for economic crimes" principle and the abandonment of quantitative performance indicators used to assess the effectiveness of law enforcement, fiscal, and regulatory agencies. A separate proposal called for monitoring economic-related criminal cases that have remained procedurally unresolved for extended periods. In the business community's view, such situations create legal uncertainty for entrepreneurs and sustain the risk of continued pressure on business entities. The International Business Council expressed its support for the Action Plan presented during the Advisory Council meeting and confirmed its readiness to help implement it in practice together with government bodies and other business community representatives. "Effective protection of property rights, the rule of law, and regulatory predictability are key conditions for attracting investment, developing entrepreneurship, and ensuring sustainable economic growth in Kyrgyzstan," Askar Sydykov emphasized following the meeting.