For much of the 1990s, Kyrgyzstan s comparatively tolerant system contrasted with those of more authoritarian-minded countries, such as China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Indeed, Kyrgyzstan s compliance with its international human rights obligations, until recently, has been quantifiably better than that its neighbors. Nevertheless, Kyrgyzstan s reputation as a democratic bastion should have been considered relative. Compliance with international human rights norms should be measured by universal standards. The recent escalation of repression in Kyrgyzstan may reflect the overwhelming burden of having unreliable or badly behaved neighbors.
Repression is the way of life or actively on the rise throughout Central Asia.
Russia s influence under newly elected Vladimir Putin is unknown and therefore threatening. And Kyrgyzstan s proximity to authoritarian Uzbekistan played a major role in the Batken hostage crisis from August October 1999. The parliamentary elections may have simply triggered in Kyrgyzstan the panic already gathering in the region. Between 1992 and 1998, Ms. Dailey worked as a researcher and human rights advocate for Human Rights Watch, based in New York and Moscow, covering principally the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation. Since 1998, Dailey has worked as a human rights advocate for Human Rights Watch, the International League for Human Rights, and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.