Freedom of the Press 2007: Kyrgyzstan

Of the 11 journalists on trial on charges of “calling for mass riots”, two were handed long prison sentences, two were handed three years of probation, and the rest were found not guilty.

“The forced closure of ‘Kloop Media’ not only silences a crucial voice in Kyrgyzstani society but also signals a continued decline in Kyrgyzstan’s respect for civil and political rights and freedoms of its citizens.”

Similar to Russia’s foreign agent legislation, the law requires nonprofits that receive foreign funding and engage in what it defines as political activities to register as “foreign representatives.”