(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is an alert from the Trade Union for Journalists in Kyrgyzstan, an Adil Soz partner: In November 2004, the editorial staff of the independent newspaper “Faktor”, published in the Issyk-Kul region, announced the paper’s closure, citing financial difficulties. However, according to one of the paper’s journalists, who wishes to remain […]
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is an alert from the Trade Union for Journalists in Kyrgyzstan, an Adil Soz partner:
In November 2004, the editorial staff of the independent newspaper “Faktor”, published in the Issyk-Kul region, announced the paper’s closure, citing financial difficulties. However, according to one of the paper’s journalists, who wishes to remain anonymous, the paper was closed for other reasons.
On 12 July, the newspaper’s editor and founder, Ramiz Mamedov, was called to the Issyk-Kul regional Prosecutor’s Office regarding an article entitled, “The Richest One Hundred Citizens of Kyrgyzstan”, published in “Faktor” earlier in 2004. According to the region’s deputy prosecutor, Jorokul Kuvatov, the article contained elements that libelled President Askar Akayev and his family. Kuvatov handed Mamedov an injunction regarding the alleged violation and told him that he could face a three-year prison sentence if sufficient evidence were found for the case against him to advance. The deputy prosecutor suggested that Mamedov publish a retraction of the article and close down his paper. Fearing the possible consequences, Mamedov proceeded to do so.
According to Mamedov, the article in question was taken from the “Free Asia” bulletin (http://www.freeas.org). “Faktor” was published for more than eight years, from 1996 to 2004.
