A/HRC/45/2 409. Cuba appreciated the large number of recommendations accepted by Kyrgyzstan, including those made by Cuba. It urged Kyrgyzstan to work on effective implementation of the national strategy for gender equality and on national efforts to provide comprehensive care to persons with disabilities and older persons. Cuba wished Kyrgyzstan every success in implementing the accepted recommendations. 410. Egypt commended Kyrgyzstan’s acceptance of most of the recommendations, its 2019-2021 national human rights action plan, the ratification of the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, promoting the independence of the judiciary, as well as fighting extremism and terrorism. Egypt encouraged Kyrgyzstan to continue its cooperation with the treaty bodies, and recommended the adoption of the report. 411. Uzbekistan noted the responsible approach of Kyrgyzstan during the universal periodic review process. Uzbekistan was pleased that the country had accepted the majority of recommendations, including its own. It welcomed the constructive cooperation of Kyrgyzstan with the special procedures mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, and stated that effective implementation of the recommendations would facilitate improvements to the human rights system in Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan recommended approval of the report of Kyrgyzstan. 3. General comments made by other stakeholders 412. During the adoption of the outcome of the review of Kyrgyzstan, six other stakeholders made statements. 413. Article 19, the International Centre Against Censorship Institute (by video message) was concerned by the Government’s attempts to control and restrict freedom of expression on the Internet as part of the state of emergency enacted in response to COVID-19, notably adopting the Information Manipulation Act in June 2020. It had seen an increase in the number of independent journalists and media organizations being called in for questioning for criticizing the authorities in relation to social media. Article 19 welcomed the acceptance of recommendations to enhance the protection of journalists and create favourable conditions for freedom of the media, while calling on the Government to fully implement those recommendations. It voiced its concern that Kyrgyzstan had not accepted the recommendation to amend Article 313 of its Criminal Code, for which neither the consequences were considered nor whether they reached the threshold of incitement under international human rights law. It called for a review of this law to clarify that incitement required proof of intent. 414. Amnesty International (by video message) welcomed Kyrgyzstan’s acceptance of 193 out of 232 recommendations, including those on eradicating torture, combating domestic violence and inclusion of persons with disabilities. It regretted that recommendations on eliminating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and setting up an independent body to investigate torture had been noted. It stated that human rights defender, Azimjan Askarov, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010 under false charges and following a trial not meeting international fair trial standards, had died in detention in July 2020, despite repeated calls for his release given the risk to his health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It called on the Government to thoroughly investigate the cause of Askarov’s death and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable. Amnesty International remained concerned that people with disabilities faced barriers to inclusion. LGBTI persons also encountered discrimination and violence. It urged the authorities to implement recommendations from the previous universal periodic review cycle to fully investigate human rights violations that occurred during the June 2010 ethnic violence. 415. Human Rights Watch was dismayed that Kyrgyzstan had not taken action on recommendations to release Azimjan Askarov from prison, had denied him adequate 75