SCNS blocks Azattyk's accounts. Staff suspected of creating new website

18:09, 31 октября 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Aida DZHUMASHOVA

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) blocked Azattyk Media’s bank accounts. The radio reported.

The media outlet learned about the blocking of accounts on Monday. Not a single department notified or informed them. A bank employee said on the phone that the SCNS had sent a notification about this.

«The bank did not send us an official notice. The SCNS press center reported that they would clarify the information and asked to send an official request,» Radio Azattyk reports.

In addition, according to Azattyk Media, the Ministry of Culture suspects that the media has opened a new mirror site. Such a letter came to their editorial office signed by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy Chyngyz Esengul uulu.

«The media outlet did not open a new site and cannot prevent citizens and organizations from sharing information published on the site. Thus, Azattyk Media considers the claims of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy to be unfounded,» the media outlet’s statement says.

The letter addressed to Azattyk states that, despite the decision to suspend work of the website for two months, the media outlet continues to function through other IP addresses and a domain name.

«In accordance with Article 3 of the Law on protection against inaccurate (false) information, the owner of a site or page is not entitled to create a new site or page on the Internet during the period of its suspension. At the same time, the ministry informs that, in accordance with the Code of Offenses, Azattyk Media may be held administratively liable for non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of the lawful decision of the authorized body. In order to take measures to further prevent violations of the norms of the law, the ministry reserves the right to contact law enforcement agencies,» it says.

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.