14:55, 01 февраля 2023, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Darya PODOLSKAYA
The international non-governmental organization Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), along with six other international organizations, sent a letter to the administration of the President of Kyrgyzstan. CPJ website says.
The human rights activists are concerned about escalating repression of journalists and crackdown on press freedom in Kyrgyzstan. They cited the blocking of Azattyk Media website, the expulsion of journalist Bolot Temirov from the country, and the sentence against Next TV director Taalaibek Duishenbiev as examples.
The authors of the letter remind that the law of the ex-deputy of Parliament Gulshat Asylbaeva «On Protection from Inaccurate (False) Information» grants state officials draconian powers to block news websites without any requirement to justify their decisions and without the opportunity for news organizations to contest the blocks before they are enforced, and a recently proposed draft law «On Mass Media» has deeply disquieted journalists in Kyrgyzstan.
«We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and appropriate officials from your administration, to discuss the above-mentioned incidents and find ways to bring Kyrgyzstan closer to your stated priorities and in line with the country’s international obligations,» the letter addressed to Sadyr Japarov says.
Since becoming president, you have reiterated your belief that Kyrgyzstan is a country where freedom of the press prevails. You have also said that you are acutely aware of the harm that the persecution of free speech does to society.
From the letter of international human rights activists to President Sadyr Japarov
Along with CPJ, Article 19, Human Rights Watch, the International Press Institute, the Justice for Journalists Foundation, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Reporters Without Borders are requesting a meeting with the president.
The Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan filed a lawsuit with the Leninsky District Court of Bishkek to terminate the activities of Azattyk Media institution as a media outlet.
On October 27, the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan announced that it had suspended the operation of Radio Azattyk website for two months. The ministry noted that on September 16, the Current Time resource (subordinate structure of Azattyk Media) published a video entitled «Heavy fighting on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan», in which «elements of hate speech, unconfirmed information about the alleged attack by the Kyrgyz side on Tajikistan were used, as well as information that aggravates the situation in society and causes hatred, discrimination and division among citizens when covering events in Batken region.»
Kyrgyzstan’s media community has expressed its concern over the Kyrgyz government’s continued harassment of independent journalists and attempts to restrict media freedom, saying that the ministry should withdraw the lawsuit.
As the human rights activists note, Kyrgyz authorities have recently increased efforts to control and censor mass media amid a continued crackdown on freedom of expression and civil society.