U.S. Ambassador to OSCE comments on blocking of Azattyk Media

U.S. Ambassador to OSCE Michael Carpenter commented on the blocking of Azattyk Media on Twitter.

According to him, this causes deep concern.

The Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy announced that it had suspended the operation of Radio Azattyk website for two months. The ministry noted that on September 16, Current Time resource (subordinate structure of Azattyk Media) published a video «Heavy fighting on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan», in which «elements of hate speech were used, as well as unconfirmed information about the alleged attack by the Kyrgyz side on Tajikistan, information that aggravates the situation in society and causes hatred, discrimination and division among citizens when covering events in Batken region.»

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.