IFEX, the global network of 119 member-organizations dedicated to promoting and defending the right to freedom of expression and information, calls on Kyrgyz authorities to uphold their international human rights obligations by ceasing the wider use of criminal prosecution and abuse of legislation to systematically target independent media outlets, journalists, and other media professionals. The joint appeal was posted on the IFEX website.
IFEX is urging the authorities in Kyrgyzstan to withdraw their lawsuit to liquidate the Kloop Media Public Foundation.
As it was reported earlier, during the preliminary hearings on October 23, the court rejected Kloop Media’s motion to suspend consideration of the lawsuit — the next hearing has been set for November 3.
According to the network members, the lawsuit is a blatant attempt at censorship that not only contradicts the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, but also contravenes Kyrgyzstan’s international human rights obligations, noting that General Comment 34 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights expressly outlines the importance of protections for speech deemed critical of public authorities, due to the particularly high social value of such discourse.
As a current member of the UN Human Rights Council, Kyrgyzstan has an additional responsibility to avoid such violations and uphold the rights to free expression and freedom of association.
IFEX
IFEX members also voiced their concerns on the Kyrgyzstan government’s undermining of pluralistic and independent public service broadcasting, its growing repression of press freedom and free expression, and increasing abuse of legislation, which has often mirrored Russian-style repressive elements.
In June civil society organizations urged lawmakers in Kyrgyzstan to refrain from passing amendments on the draft law «On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic» (Law of the Kyrgyz Republic «On Non-Commercial Organizations» and the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic), as it would stigmatize and restrict the activities of foreign-funded organizations.
Kyrgyzstan’s pending draft law «On the Mass Media» also mirrors elements of Russia’s law on mass media, such as the imposition of more stringent registration and re-registration requirements on all websites as media outlets, including websites of national and international NGOs and professional organizations, and the enabling of government to approve or reject requests based on excessively vague and broad grounds for suspension and termination of media activities.
«Kyrgyzstan’s continuing crackdown and ongoing abuse of legislation is fueling the deterioration of freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of association, and civic space in the country. Accordingly, we call on the Kyrgyz government to assert its independent responsibility and obligations to promote and protect human rights by stopping the targeting of independent media and associations more broadly and ensuring the above rights are protected for the purpose of enabling a healthy democracy,» the appeal says.
