The President of Kyrgyzstan commented on the searches in the office of 24.kg news agency in an interview with Kabar state agency.

«As I was informed, operational and investigative measures in the office of the online media outlet 24.kg were conducted within the framework of a criminal case initiated under Article 407 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (propaganda of war). After interrogation on the same day, the employees of the news agency were released. The case is being investigated. The appropriate procedures established by the legislation of the country must be followed,» Sadyr Japarov 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.

On January 17, Asel Otorbaeva and Makhinur Niyazova were again summoned for questioning to the SCNS.