TRANSFORMATION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL TRENDS IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

Abstract

Relevance. This article examines the constitutional foundations of freedom of religion in the Kyrgyz Republic and the transformation of legislation regulating religious organizations during the period of independence. The main objective of the study is to analyze the formation of state–religion relations in Kyrgyzstan, to explore the legal and social dimensions of the secular principle, and to identify the factors that have influenced changes in religious legislation. The article discusses developments in the country’s religious policy since independence in 1991, constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion, and the practical implementation of these principles. The research is based on historical-comparative, legal, and documentary analysis methods. A comparative analysis is conducted of the Law “On Freedom of Religion and Religious Organizations” adopted in 1991, its revised version of 2008, and the law that entered into force in 2025. The study also examines the evolution of the secular principle in different versions of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and utilizes findings from sociological surveys concerning public perceptions of secularism in Kyrgyz society. The findings indicate that changes in religious legislation have been closely linked to increasing religious activity, the growth in the number of religious organizations, national security concerns, and state policies aimed at regulating the religious sphere. Although constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion have remained largely unchanged, the content of religious legislation has evolved in response to changing social and political conditions. The study concludes that the transformation of religious legislation reflects the state's efforts to maintain a balance between religious freedom and public security. The scientific contribution of this article lies in its comprehensive analysis of state–religion relations in Kyrgyzstan through the lens of constitutional reforms and legislative developments in the religious sphere.