All claims that DemirBank illegally blocked Azattyk’s accounts are completely unfounded. The financial institution announced on its pages on social media.
«Transactions on the account of Azattyk have been suspended in accordance with the law on combating terrorist activities and money laundering (CFTA/LCP). The official response to this was provided by the bank to Azattyk on the basis of its written request. Compliance with the requirements of the law on CFTA/LCP is mandatory for all banks in Kyrgyzstan, and in accordance with article 32 of the aforementioned law, banks are not liable for the suspension of banking operations, if this is done on the basis of this law,» the statement 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 standards.»
Blocking of accounts of the media outlet was announced later. Demir Bank verbally reported that the accounts were blocked, and recommended to contact the State Committee for National Security for clarification. The media outlet contacted the bank for official clarification of the situation.
