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Eurasian Program

Since 1997, the ICNL Alliance has worked to foster an enabling legal and fiscal environment for civil society throughout Eurasia.

Country-specific activities are tailored to meet the needs of civil society in every country we work in:Armenia,Azerbaijan,Belarus,Georgia,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Moldova,Russia,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan,Ukraine, andUzbekistan. Our activities include providing technical assistance to civil society and government representatives, increasing the capacity of local partners, and bolstering the legal literacy of civil society organizations. We also support cross-border activities that give local civil society representatives and lawyers the opportunity to exchange perspectives with colleagues from other countries.

Highlights

Recommendations on Kazakhstan’s Draft Law on NGOs

In March 2025, Kazakhstan’s President called for a new law to strengthen the State Social Contract (SSC) and align it with modern realities. Following this, the Ministry of Culture and Information formed a working group with civil society experts. At their request, ICNL prepared recommendations based on international best practices to inform discussions on the country’s forthcoming NGO legislation.Download ICNL’s recommendations (In Russian).

Update on Enactment of the Georgian Foreign Agents Registration Act

On May 31, Georgia’s new Foreign Agents Registration Act (hereinafter – the Georgian FARA) entered into force. In April, ICNL published a brief on the adopted law, disputing inaccurate and misleading claims that the Georgian FARA is only a “translation” of the US FARA, while highlighting the broad and restrictive scope of the law, its burdensome compliance requirements, and the severe criminal penalties introduced for violations. Amid the Georgian government’s ongoing crackdown on civil society and its efforts to cut off access to funding, many Georgian NGOs rightfully fear that the Georgian FARA will be weaponized against Georgian civil society to silence independent voices.

Uzbekistan: New Law on Amendments to NNO-related Legislation

On August 21, the President of Uzbekistansigned a new law amending nine existing laws that regulate non-governmental non-commercial organizations (NNOs). This new legislation introduces a mix of reforms, with some easing restrictions, while others add new obligations. ICNL’s overview highlights the key provisions of the law, which carry significant implications for Uzbek civil society. Available inEnglish andRussian

Photo of book of ethics by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

Self-Regulation for NGOs: Codes of Ethics

At request of Uzbek non-governmental non-commercial organizations (NNOs) ICNL prepared an overview of international practices in NGO self-regulation, with a focus on the role of codes of ethics. The overview stresses that such codes must be voluntary and NGO-led, serving to build public trust, improve effectiveness, or avoid restrictive legislation. While the scope of codes varies, they often address governance, transparency, and conflict-of-interest standards, and should be developed through a voluntary, inclusive, and transparent process.

the document is available inEnglish andRussian

Market in Tajikistan, photo via creative commons

The Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on Social Entrepreneurship

On January 2, 2025, the President of Tajikistan signed the Law on Social Entrepreneurship (SE) (the Law on SE). The Law on SE provides a legal basis for SE through guarantees of state protection and support, as well as expansion of the activities of subjects of SE (social enterprises and social entrepreneurs), with a specific focus on support to socially vulnerable groups of people. Overall, the new Law on SE can be considered a positive legal reform for civil society.

Read the full Brief, available in English, here or inRussian, here.

kazakhstan, photo credit Nozim Nurillaev via Unsplash

Legislative Overview for Financial Sustainability for Civil Society in Central Asia

This Overview, updated in July 2024, highlights the legislative opportunities and constraints affecting the financial sustainability of civil society organizations. It also offers a comparative approach, allowing readers to use examples from several countries and apply them to their practice. Moreover, the Overview provides information that can be used to improve civil society-related legislation across the region and is meant to be particularly useful for specialists, civil society representatives, government agencies, and parliamentarians. Find the full analysis inEnglish orRussian.