Mass arrests and blocking of Azattyk: EU is concerned

10:00, 29 октября 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Darya PODOLSKAYA

European Union Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore expressed concern about the detentions of activists and the blocking of the media in Kyrgyzstan. He wrote about it on Twitter.

He noted that he was deeply concerned about the recent detentions in Kyrgyzstan, including of activists, bloggers and persons in serious medical condition, and by the temporary closure of Azattyk media outlet.

The authorities of Kyrgyzstan must respect their international obligations on fundamental freedoms.

Eamon Gilmore

The Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan suspended the work of Azattyk Media website for two months on October 26, referring to the law of the ex-deputy Gulshat Asylbayeva on protection from inaccurate (false) information. The reason was a video from Current Time (a TV channel created by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) titled «Heavy fighting on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.» The material was also published on Azattyk Media website.

In a statement issued the same day, RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said the broadcaster had reviewed the content in question and found «no violation of our standards.»

«We will not succumb to pressure to remove balanced reporting from our sites, be it from the Kremlin or the Kyrgyz government,» he added.