Kyrgyzstan Considers Ban on Donations to Personal Cards, Proposes Charity Portal

Kyrgyzstan is reviewing a draft law that aims to overhaul rules for charitable fundraising and strengthen penalties for fraud. The proposed legislation seeks to prohibit public appeals for donations to personal bank accounts, requiring instead the opening of dedicated accounts in commercial banks for such campaigns.

Under the new regulations, using collected funds for personal or non-charitable purposes would be forbidden. A key feature of the bill is the planned creation of a state-run charitable portal. This platform would require charitable organizations and individuals conducting public fundraising to register and submit electronic financial reports, enhancing transparency.

The bill also addresses the handling of unspent funds. If a fundraising goal becomes unattainable, for instance, due to a recipient's death, refusal of treatment, or surplus funds, the money could be redirected to similar charitable causes or returned to donors proportionally. Additionally, the draft law proposes increasing the maximum administrative expenses for charitable foundations from the current 2% to 15%, a move intended to attract qualified specialists and align with international practices.

Amendments to the Criminal Code are also included, aiming to classify fraud committed under the guise of charitable activities as a distinct offense, carrying stricter penalties. The explanatory note states the initiative's goal is to protect citizens from online scams, improve the transparency of donation usage, and bolster trust in charitable organizations.