The authorities in Kyrgyzstan have increased efforts to control and censor mass media amid their recent crackdown on freedom of expression and civil society, Human Rights Watch said.
On October 26, 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan announced a two-month blockage of the websites of Azattyk Media, the Kyrgyz service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, because of a video covering the recent border conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The order was based on the Law on Protection from False Information, which drew significant criticism when adopted in August 2021. The authorities claim the video used hate speech and false information.
«It is standard journalistic practice to provide information from both sides of the conflict,» said Syinat Sultanalieva, Central Asia Researcher at Human Rights Watch. «The blockage of Azattyk is a blatant attempt to control and censor independent journalism in Kyrgyzstan in violation of the country’s international human rights obligations, particularly with respect to freedoms of expression and of the media.»
As noted, the blockage of Azattyk’s websites followed a protest outside Azattyk’s office on October 13, saying it should be closed down, and an initiative by a member of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Nadira Narmatova, for people to sign a petition calling for closure of Azattyk Media and two other media — Kloop, and Kaktus.media.
The Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture and Information, which is responsible for enforcing the Protection from False Information Law, had previously blocked websites of Respublica newspaper for two months and attempted to block the website of 24.kg news agency over an anonymous complaint of false information. The website was subsequently unblocked.
On September 28, the Kyrgyz president’s administration submitted draft amendments to the Law on Mass Media, which would include penalties for «abuse of freedom of speech» (Article 4) for public consideration.
On October 27, dozens of representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s media community published an open appeal to the Kyrgyz government to immediately cease all pressure on freedom of speech and freedom of media and to withdraw the Protection from False Information Law.
«Kyrgyzstan should stand up for, not undermine, independent media,» Sultanalieva said. «Authorities should immediately cease their attempts at controlling this fundamental human right by withdrawing the proposed amendments and uphold its commitment to respect all freedoms and human rights in the country.»
