Attacks on the Press in 2008: Kyrgyzstan

The three journalists were convicted in 2024 of calling for mass unrest: Makhabat Tajibek kyzy was handed six years in prison, Azamat Ishenbekov received five, and Aike Beishekeyeva was given five years suspended.

The recent amendments criminalising libel and defamation in the media and online came into force on 10 February. Kyrgyzstan previously decriminalised defamation in 2011 and insult in 2015.

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.