Kyrgyzstan

Freedom of the Press 2007: Kyrgyzstan

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 February 2008 CPJ letter to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev: His Excellency Kurmanbek Bakiyev President of Kyrgyzstan Dom Pravitelstva Bishkek 720003 Kyrgyzstan Via facsimile: + 996 (312) 62 7072 and +996 (312) 21 8627 Dear Mr. President, The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the lack of […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 20 December 2007, two journalists – Aizada Kutuyeva of the news agency 24.kg and Tolkun Namatbayeva of Agence France Presse – were arrested in the capital, Bishkek, while covering a demonstration against the outcome of parliamentary elections. Along with other protesters, they were taken to the city’s Interior Department. They were […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a joint statement by Adil Soz and newspaper journalists and editors in Batken region regarding the authorities’ intention to stop funding state-run newspapers: Dear Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, We, the staff of district and city state-run newspapers in Batken region, closely follow all the events that take […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 October 2007 CPJ press release: Prominent journalist killed in southern Kyrgyzstan New York, October 24, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s murder in southern Kyrgyzstan of Alisher Saipov, editor of the independent Uzbek-language weekly Siyosat (Politics) and contributor to several regional news outlets. Saipov was […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – State-controlled newspapers in Batken, the only source of information for people in the region, may be shut down soon, following the government’s decision to cancel the status of the region. The Batken region will lose its status as a region when the government decision to merge three regions in southern Kyrgyzstan – […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders said it was “alarmed by the tense situation” in recent weeks in Kyrgyzstan after an explosion damaged the offices of two newspapers in the country’s second city, Osh, on 30 May 2007. It called on the government to thoroughly investigate the blast and take steps to protect the media if […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 16 May 2007, “Talas turmushu” newspaper editor Kozubek Imankulov, photojournalist Berdibek Sultanmuratov and a journalist for the National TV/Radio Corporation, Salamat Nazarkulov, were rudely prevented from carrying out their professional activities during a demonstration in Aksai village, southern Kyrgyzstan. The protesters, who demanded that the gold mine Zherui Andash be shut […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – Journalist Abdumalik Sharipov, two employees of the local human rights organisation “Justice” – Valentina Gritsenko and Mahamadzhana Abdushaparova – and a private citizen, Nargiza Turdiyeva, are facing defamation and insult charges under Articles 127 and 128 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. The charges stem from a January 2006 article, […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – Five journalists were injured, another two were threatened with physical violence, journalists’ equipment was broken and newspapers were seized during a nine-day opposition demonstration in the capital city, Bishkek. On 14 April 2007, Aziz Egemberdiyev, a reporter for the news agency 24.kg, Sanzhar Hamidov and Bobozhon Tuganov, a camera crew for the […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 14 April 2007, Aziz Egemberdiyev, a reporter for the news agency 24.kg; Sanzhar Hamidov and Bobozhon Tuganov, a camera crew for the Russia-based television channel NTV; and Nina Gorshkova, a photojournalist for the newspaper “Slovo Kyrgyzstana”, were all injured by protesters while covering an opposition demonstration in the central square of […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: KYRGYZSTAN: Journalists attacked, threatened amid growing political tensions New York, April 9, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed by an attack and threats against several provincial journalists amid escalating political tension between Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and opposition leaders calling for his resignation. […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 31 March 2007, Talanbek Sopuyev, a journalist for local television and radio company Sentyabr, was assaulted in Zhalalabat, a city in southern Kyrgyzstan, during a demonstration staged by the political movement For Political Stability and Unity and the political parties Zhany Kyrgyzstan and Eldik Birimdik, in support of the current president. […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 29 March 2007 IFJ media release: IFJ Welcomes Breakthrough for Press Freedom in Kyrgyzstan The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called upon the president and government of Kyrgyzstan to follow up quickly on the decision of the Parliament to decriminalise libel and slander. The IFJ says that the […]

(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 […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 March 2007 CPJ press release: Kyrgyzstan: Television reporter attacked, sued, after critical broadcast New York, March 21, 2007 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the recent beating of a television journalist who reported on corruption at a railroad company in Kyrgyzstan. Kairat Birimkulov, reporter for […]