(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 27 March 2007, at about 9:00 p.m. (local time), NTS TV channel news presenter Daniyar Isanov was assaulted by a group of unknown people in the capital city of Bishkek. He was taken by the four men to a river on the outskirts of the city and left there unconscious, after […]
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 27 March 2007, at about 9:00 p.m. (local time), NTS TV channel news presenter Daniyar Isanov was assaulted by a group of unknown people in the capital city of Bishkek. He was taken by the four men to a river on the outskirts of the city and left there unconscious, after being hit from behind and assaulted. He regained consciousness at 5:00 a.m. the following day and was taken to hospital by a passing taxi. As a result of the attack, the journalist suffered a fractured nose and multiple bruises.
The journalist filed a report with the Pervomai district interior department. The police investigation into the case is underway.
“The journalist links the attack to his professional activities,” said Public Journalists’ Association project director, Marat Tokoyev.
On 19 March, another journalist, Kairat Berimkulov, who works for the State TV and Radio Company, was assaulted by unknown men outside his home in the countryside near Bishkek. The assailants beat him up and fled, stealing his digital video camera, dictaphone and a folder with documents. The journalist was taken to hospital with serious head trauma.
The district police department has started an investigation into the case.
Berimkulov believes the assault is related to his recent reports on railroad problems, saying he had previously received several telephone threats. The journalist was closely involved in social and economic reporting. At a 26 January press conference, he publicly accused the head of the state-controlled company Kyrgyz Temir Zholy of corruption and illegal business dealings. Shortly after the press conference, Kyrgyz Temir Zholy filed a lawsuit against the journalist based on “protection of honor and dignity.” On 19 March, the company’s communications department denied the allegations, calling the accusation a “provocation organised by the journalist.”
