18 Amendments of Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS related to 2023/2106(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas since the adoption of the EU strategy on Central Asia in 2019, the region has been affected by significant external factors, such as Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, and China’s global ambitions, as well as by internal instability, particularly the violent unrcrackdown on nationwide protests in Kazakhstan in January 2022 supported by Russia-led military intervention to save the local regime, violent crackdowns following protests in the Gorno- Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast of Tajikistan in November 2021 and May 2022 and in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, in July 2022, and repeated clashes on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (EPCAs) are new-generation agreements that are the cornerstone of the EU’s engagement with Central Asia; whereas there are grounds to believe that these agreements as well as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus are abused by the Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, particularly in the field of their human rights obligations as well as their assistance to Russia, undermining the European and international sanction regimes established after Russia’s full- scale invasion of Ukraine;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas Freedom House's 2023 'Nations in Transit' report, which assesses the level of democratic governance, identifies all Central Asian countries as consolidated authoritarian regimes;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the 2023 World Press Freedom Index reports a marked deterioration in the press freedom situation in Central Asia, with a remarkable 50-place drop by Kyrgyzstan;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas Reporters Without Borders reports numerous cases of Central Asian authorities pressurising their media to cover Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a "neutral" manner, or to ignore it altogether, including arrests of journalists under the threat of long prison terms;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
Dd. whereas women and girls in Central Asia remain highly vulnerable to abuse, especially as there is a high level of acceptance of violence against women and low awareness of gender stereotypes;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)
Recital D e (new)
De. whereas child marriage remains common in Central Asia, particularly in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan where one in every eight girls are married before 18 years of age;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D f (new)
Recital D f (new)
Df. whereas the average score for Central Asia in the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index is 27 – well below the global average of 43;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and increased nationalistic narratives has weakened its standing in the region and has encouraged Central Asia to pursue cooperation with other actors, and that these actors have stepped up their cooperation with Central Asia; underlines that the EU should use this window of opportunity to foster mutually beneficial cooperation, while Central Asia declaratively express its will to pursue cooperation with other actors, local governments have enormously deepened their economic cooperation with Russia, allowing it to circumvent the European and international sanctions; underlines that the EU should make mutual cooperation conditional on these countries' application of the sanctions regime;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its implications present both challenges and opportunities for the Central Asian states, which have traditionalnot only maintained but developed even closer relations with Russia; expresses deep concern about Central Asian states’ circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia, which are intended to stop the war in Ukraine; calls on the authorities of the Central Asian states, particularly Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, to cooperate closely with the EU, in particular its Sanctions Envoy;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the key role of EPCAs as the framework for cooperation with the Central Asian states; notes with concern that the EPCA with Kyrgyzstan, negotiations on which were concluded in 2019, remains unsigned; calls on the Council and the Commission to resolve the outstanding issues and to sign the EPCAs with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan without further delayonce the practice of the circumvention of sanctions against Russia is over, in order for Parliament to exercise its prerogatives regarding the ratification of these agreements; stresses that failure to sign such agreements after the conclusion of negotiations calls into question the EU’s credibility as a global actor, while at the same time it is necessary to make states entering into such partnership with the EU compliant with its primary geopolitical objectives;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Insists that respect for human rights and compliance with international obligations is an important condition for the EU's relations with Central Asia; Urges the Central Asian states to adhere to their democracy and human rights obligations, noting that this is also in line with the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements and the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus; underlines the importance of maintaining regular human rights dialogues with the Central Asian states, as these dialogues are an instrument to promote respect for human rights and, fundamental freedoms and political pluralism and a forum to raise issues of concern; calls on the EU delegations and the Member States’ representations in Central Asia to continue playing an active role in monitoring the situation on the ground, working with human rights defenders andwithout discrimination and publicly reacting to human rights violations and politically- motivated persecution, including by attending trials and visiting political prisoners;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines the fundamental democratic shortcomings in Central Asia, which still persist, and highlights the important role that civil society can play in supporting reforms and good governance in the region and monitoring compliance of the governments with the international obligations, including sanctions regime; regrets the restrictive approach taken in legislative initiatives on non- governmental organisations and the media, which reduce the space for civil society activities; notes that the Central Asian states have young and dynamic populations that should be given opportunities to get meaningfully involved in shaping their countries’ future; welcomes the activities of the EU-Central Asia Civil Society Forum and calls on the EU to enhance its support to civil society;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes the need to boost Central Asia’s resilience against disinformation by promoting independent media and content in local languages, increasing media literacy and organising targeted courses for local journalists; is concerned about the increasing number of arrests of journalists and bloggers and about threats to close independent media outlets; insists that respect for the rights of journalists, independent bloggers and, human rights defenders, civic and environmental activists must be ensured, that they must be guaranteed protection against harassment, pressure and threats and, that any attacks against them must be investigated and that all unjustly detained and imprisoned would be immediately and unconditionally released;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the authorities of Central Asia to release all political prisoners, specifically on the authorities of Kazakhstan: Aigerim Tleuzhan, Marat Zhylanbayev, Bekizhan Mendygaziyev, Timur Danebayev, Kairat Klyshev; on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan: Azimbek Beknazarov, Aibek Buzurmankulov, Aidanbek Akmatov, Temir Makhmudov, Marat Bayazov; on the authorities of Uzbekistan: Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov, Allabai Tokymbetov, Nurlan Naiypov, Amirbek Adilbekov; on the authorities of Tajikistan: Faromuz Irgashov, Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, Khursand Mamadshoev, Khushruz Djumaev; and on the authorities of Turkmenistan: Omruzak Omarkuliev, Murat Dushemov, Murat Ovezov, Mansur Mingelov, Nurgeldy Khalykov;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is concerned that gender-based violence, domestic violence, child marriage, discrimination and harassment of minorities and LGTBIQ people are still widespread in Central Asia and urges the Central Asian governments to prevent these human rights violations through appropriate laws and measures, including increasing awareness and qualification of public officers, notably police officers, strengthen the capacity of CSOs to advocate for legislative changes, improving frontline support services for survivors and raising awareness to combat existing stereotypes and promote equality in society;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Reiterates its concerns about rampant corruption and kleptocracy in Central Asia, which erodes trust in government, fuels inequality, deprives citizens of public services and slows down economic growth; calls upon the Central Asian governments to take actions beyond widespread anti-corruption rhetoric and to finally commit to fighting corruption and kleptocracy, as well as to increase transparency and access to information, and to limit private influence;