Freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan has taken a small step forward with the opening of the country's first independently owned printing press, reports Freedom House.

Operated by the Media Support Center Foundation, a local non-profit organisation, the new printing press debuted on 14 November in the capital, Bishkek.

Freedom House has been working for the past two years to help establish the printing press.

Financial support was provided by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Open Society Institute.

Visit these sites:

- Freedom House: http://www.freedomhouse.org/media/pressrel/111403.htm

- Public Association "Journalists": http://www.monitoring.kg/index_eng.html