Mass searches, summonses for interrogation and arrests are aimed at intimidating journalists. Tamara Valieva, Chairperson of the Media Action Platform of Kyrgyzstan, said at a press conference.
«This was a signal to us not to stick our noses where we do not belong, otherwise the same thing will happen to us,» she said, adding that investigations like those related to Bolot Temirov and Ali Toktakunov are necessary for honest authorities if they want to work for the good of the people.
Tamara Valieva noted that journalists, mass media are a bridge between people and power. «This is our function and mission. Early morning searches in the homes of our colleagues are to intimidate us. In this way, they are saying: «Don’t stick your nose where you don’t belong,’» she said.
The Chairperson of the Media Action Platform called on the authorities to stop harassing the media for their professional activities and appealed to President Sadyr Japarov to listen to journalists.
«We personally call on Sadyr Japarov to find time in his very busy schedule to meet with representatives of independent media. Because everyone now feels that a conversation is overdue, and without it the endless confrontation will continue. Moreover, we did not declare war on our part, did not go to confrontation, but we are just fulfilling our professional duty,» she said.
Employees of the State Committee for National Security came to the office of 24.kg news agency on January 16 at about 11 a.m. General Director Asel Otorbaeva, Editors-in-Chief Anton Lymar and Makhinur Niyazova were taken for interrogation. Equipment and personal mobile phones of employees were confiscated. The SCNS said that the search at 24.kg news agency was conducted as part of a criminal case under the article «Propaganda of War» of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.
In addition, on January 16, the office of Temirov Live was searched and editorial equipment was confiscated. The police searched homes and detained 11 current and former employees of the media outlet.
The Interior Ministry issued a statement announcing that, as a result of «forensic linguistic examination» of content found on the social media pages of Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese on December 30, criminal proceedings had been initiated against them under article 278, part 3 of the Criminal Code for «calling for riots.»
