March for freedom of speech held in Bishkek

A march in support of independent media and freedom of speech has begun in Bishkek.

Participants gather on Erkindik Boulevard near the railway station. They will march peacefully from the station to Ala-Too square.

Police officers are already at the scene.

About 20 people staged a rally near the office of Radio Azattyk in the capital on Thursday. Most of the participants wore medical masks and hid their faces. They demanded to shut down three independent media in Kyrgyzstan — Azattyk, Kloop and Kaktus.media.

According to the protesters, deputy Nadira Narmatova supported them. On Wednesday, at a meeting of the Parliament, she organized a collection of signatures under some appeal to the President with a request to close a number of media outlets.

Nadira Narmatova herself denied this initiative.