Founders and editors of the media in Kyrgyzstan demand to withdraw the decision to block Azattyk and a meeting with the President Sadyr Japarov. Their appeal addressed to the head of state says.
«We appeal to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the Parliament, Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev, Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev, Minister of Internal Affairs Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy Altynbek Maksutov. There has been unprecedented pressure on independent journalists and the media in Kyrgyzstan: criminal cases are being opened, access to information is being restricted, and laws restricting freedom of speech are being initiated and adopted,» the appeal says.
An organized and planned campaign to discredit journalists is held. Rallies and collection of signatures are initiated with the demand to shut down independent media. There are open threats to burn editorial offices down and use other illegal methods of influencing representatives of the media, while law enforcement agencies do not respond to such facts.
From the appeal of media editors
As noted, the administration of the head of state has developed and submitted for public discussion a draft of a new Law On Mass Media. It is 96 percent copied from a similar law of the Russian Federation. At the same time, some rules are even tougher. Lawyers of media organizations warn that if the document is adopted in the form in which it is presented now, then Kyrgyzstan may say goodbye to freedom of speech, first for the media, and then for bloggers and Internet users.
The Ministry of Culture began to apply the law on protection against inaccurate (false) information, adopted a year ago with violations, initiated by Gulshat Asylbaeva. As lawyers emphasize, this document is «draconian» because it contains extremely broad, vague language and unfair rules that allow the authorized body, that is, the Ministry of Culture, to arbitrarily block independent media without a legitimate court decision, without any adversarial trials to establish the truth. Three media outlets have already fallen under its action — Respublica, 24.kg and Azattyk Media.
There is information that at least three more well-known independent Internet resources — Kaktus.media, Kloop.kg and Factcheck.kg — may also be blocked in the near future.
The founders and chief editors of the media in Kyrgyzstan are concerned about the current situation and ask Sadyr Japarov to meet with them without the participation of his press service and officials of the presidential administration.
Media representatives also turn to the country’s leadership with the following proposals:
- Revoke the decision to block Azattyk website.
- Suspend consideration of complaints and blocking of other media.
- Stop unfounded and illegal criminal cases against journalists.
- Withdraw the draft of the new Law on Mass Media.
- Establish a working group with the participation of the delegated media community (Independent Union of Journalists, Journalists NGO and leading media) to discuss media legislation.
- The Parliament to consider amendments to the law of ex-deputy Gulshat Asylbayeva «On protection from inaccurate (false) information» proposed by deputies Zhanar Akaev, Adakhan Madumarov, Elmurza Satybaldiev, Gulya Kozhokulova, Dastan Bekeshev, Seid Atambaev and Chingiz Aidarbekov.
The appeal was signed by:
- Dina Maslova, Head of ProMedia Plus Public Foundation (founder of Kaktus.media, Kaktus.kg, Bilesinbi.kg);
- Makhinur Niyazova, Editor-in-Chief of 24.kg news agency;
- Aizada Kasmaliyeva, editor of Azattyk Media;
- Anna Kapushenko, Kloop.kg;
- Ali Toktakunov, head of MediaHub;
- Bolot Temirov, head of Temirov Live;
- Nurgul Abdykerimova, Director of Center for Media Development Public Foundation (founder of Fastcheck.kg);
- Taalai Duishenbiev, Archa;
- Kaiyrgul Urumkanova, head of Govori.TV;
- Zhanybek Derkembaev, General Director of TRK T-Media Group;
- Dilbar Alimova, editor of PolitKlinika publication;
- Semetei Amanbekov, head of Bulak.kg;
- Gladis Temirchieva, head of Vesti.kg;
- Leyla Saralayeva, head of New Faces;
- Ravshan Lichanyu, General Producer of TV1.kg;
- Nurdin Duishenbekov, Chairman of Journalists NGO;
- Dmitry Lozhnikov, Editor-in-Chief of April;
- Yaroslav Tartykov, Editor of Factcheck.kg;
- Nurzhamal Dzhanibekova, Editor-in-Chief of Bashta;
- Olzhobai Shakir, editor of Ait Ait Dese;
- Azamat Ishenbekov, editor of Ait Ait Dese;
- Ulan Usoyun, Bashtan Bashta;
- Asel Otorbaeva, General Director of 24.kg news agency.
