Democracy cannot exist without independence and freedom of the media. OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro said at the 24th Central Asia Media Conference in Bishkek.
She noted that the situation with freedom of speech is deteriorating in all countries of Central Asia.
Where journalists are pressured, sooner or later democracy will be pressured too.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro
«Unfortunately, media freedom continues to spiral downward in many countries in the Central Asian region. Controversial laws are being passed, we see an increase in various forms of attacks against media freedom and freedom of expression, we see physical attacks on journalists and online harassment campaigns against journalists who investigate corruption and other sensitive topics of public interest,» Teresa Ribeiro said.
The Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic Altynbek Maksutov said that fakes pose a threat in Kyrgyzstan and in Central Asia as a whole.
«Fake information poses a threat to national and information security, as well as social stability. The countries of Central Asia should join forces to combat inaccurate and false information,» the official added.
He noted that «Kyrgyzstan will continue to implement a set of measures to strengthen freedom of speech.»
According to the law of Gulshat Asylbayeva «On Protection from False (Inaccurate) Information», the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy blocked the website of Radio Azattyk at the end of October 2022. The reason was the video material by Current Time media outlet (a subordinate structure of Azattyk Media) about an armed clash on the border with Tajikistan. Later, the Ministry of Culture filed a lawsuit for the complete cessation of Azattyk’s activities in Kyrgyzstan. In April 2023, the Leninsky District Court of Bishkek, by its decision, terminated the activities of Azattyk Media institution.
