Law on slander: Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passes bill in first reading

The Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passed the law on slander in the media in the first reading. The bill provides for the addition of an article on slander and insult in the media to the Code of Offenses.

Deputy Dastan Bekeshev published the results of the vote on the bill in his Telegram channel. Only six deputies voted against the initiative: Chingiz Aidarbekov, Zhanar Akayev, Seidbek Atambayev, Dastan Bekeshev, Aisuluu Mamashova and Elvira Surabaldieva.

If the amendments come into force, then fines of 1,000 calculated rates (100,000 soms) will be introduced for slander and insult in the media and on the Internet for individuals, and 2,000 calculated rates (200,000 soms) for legal entities.

The Ministry of Culture will determine whether it is slander and insult or not. It will also punish the slanderers. The Information Environment Research Center has already been created under the ministry for this purpose. It will employ 11 people.

President Sadyr Japarov believes that fines should be imposed for insults.