The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) commented on the verdict handed down to the head of Next TV Taalaibek Duishenbiev.
Duishenbiev, who was detained for seven months pending trial, was originally handed a five-year prison sentence. But a judge allowed him to leave detention and commuted his sentence to a three-year probationary period during which the journalist must report to authorities twice a month and refrain from leaving the capital of Bishkek.
«We strongly condemn this unjust sentence against Next TV director Taalaibek Duishenbiev. Republishing newsworthy statements by well-known public figures is part of the job of a news outlet, and the absurdity of charging Duishenbiev with incitement for this makes it clear that authorities aim to disrupt the broadcaster’s coverage,» said CPJ’s program director Carlos Martínez de la Serna. «Kyrgyz authorities should immediately overturn Duishenbiev’s conviction, withdraw the onerous probation demands placed upon him, and stop prosecuting journalists on contrived charges.»
CPJ emailed the Office of the Prosecutor General of Kyrgyzstan for comment but did not immediately receive any reply.
The Next TV director was accused of inciting ethnic hatred for publication of the post of the ex-head of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan on the channel’s social media page. The latter argued that «Kyrgyzstan will send troops to Ukraine to participate in Russia’s military special operation.» The Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic refuted this statement.
On March 3, Taalaibek Duishenbiev was detained by employees of the State Committee for National Security. He was placed in remand center. The state prosecution requested seven years in prison for the journalist.
