EU Urged to Prioritize Human Rights at Central Asia Summit

The EU is being urged to focus on human rights during its first summit with Central Asian leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, The Guardian reported. The summit, hosted by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, will address trade, security, climate, and energy ties.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, EU relations with these countries have strengthened, with discussions on improving transport links and accessing critical raw materials for the EU’s green transition. However, there are concerns about these nations potentially becoming hubs for circumventing Western sanctions against Russia.

Human rights advocates, including Iskra Kirova from Human Rights Watch, emphasize the need for the EU to leverage its influence effectively, particularly regarding restrictive laws affecting NGOs. While some progress has been made, such as the removal of criminal sanctions in Kyrgyzstan’s NGO bill, activists stress that human rights due diligence must be integral to any agreements and infrastructure projects in the region.