US CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON TRANSNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPRESSION
On June 24, 2025, the US House of Representatives held hearings on transnational repression. I had the honor of presenting to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission one of the most sophisticated methods of persecution—the abuse by undemocratic regimes of financial and cybersecurity regulations, as well as mutual legal assistance agreements, targeting not only government critics but also #American philanthropists, non-governmental organizations, and investors.
My testimony and recommendations addressed two key aspects:
(1) explaining how transnational financial repression is carried out and its impact on the United States, and
(2) how these mechanisms are used to obstruct financial support for pro-democratic movements and humanitarian activities.
Regimes, particularly #Kazakhstan and #Russia, along with their proxies such as Kyrgyzstan's #Bakai Bank, have learned to exploit trust-based mechanisms of international cooperation. This enables dictators to arbitrarily freeze or confiscate assets in the #UnitedStates, deny Americans access to financial services, misuse financial intelligence and personal data, and spread targeted disinformation to undermine organizations' economic reputations and circumvent international sanctions.
By abusing these international agreements, dictators and their proxies can also initiate Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP suits), depleting their critics residing in Western countries both legally and financially.
One example is the case of American investor and philanthropist Barlyk Mendygaziyev, his family members, and political hostage Bekizhan Mendygaziyev.
I will share more details in the next post.
https://blossom.primal.net/924ff917c772b697cf200385f0f73bef5ce79331095e534db2fec108191ff25a.mp4
