Meeting participants attack television crew, break camera, seize materials
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ condemns attack on media crew in Kyrgyzstan The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the outrageous attack on the camera crew of television company Mezon during a meeting in Jalalabat city (Kyrgyzstan) on May 27. According to IFJ affiliate, the Public Association of Journalists in […]
Human rights activist assaulted, seriously injured after organizing protest against organized crime
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 14 April 2006 Human Rights Watch press release: Kyrgyzstan: Assault on Organized Crime Critic (New York, April 14, 2006) – The investigation by Kyrgyz authorities into the recent attack on human rights activist Edil Baisalov must be thorough, independent and capable of leading to prosecution, Human Rights Watch said […]
Prosecutor threatens legal action against two editors
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Prosecutor threatens legal action against two editors New York, January 12, 2006 – The top prosecutor in the Kyrgyzstani capital, Bishkek, said today he had issued formal warnings to two newspaper editors and may take legal action against them for allegedly slandering President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, according […]
Journalist denied information
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a joint Adil Soz and Trade Union for Journalists in Kyrgyzstan alert: On 19 November, 2005, Alisher Saipov, a reporter with Voice of America in Kyrgyzstan, was denied information by Hokim Razykov, head of the Interior Department’s Support for Public Movements Section, in Osh. The journalist was requesting information […]
ARTICLE 19 welcomes government initiative to establish public service broadcasting but expresses some concern about draft law
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 9 November 2005 ARTICLE 19 open letter to President Kurmanbek Bakiev: President Kurmanbek Bakiev Kyrgyz Republic 09 November 2005 Dear Mr. President, Re. Establishment of Public Service Broadcasting in Kyrgyzstan ARTICLE 19 welcomes the current initiative by the Kyrgyz government to establish public service broadcasting. We are very […]
Protesters attack and threaten journalists
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a joint Trade Union for Journalists in Kyrgyzstan and Adil Soz alert: On October 26, 2005, protesters calling for the resignation of the government and Prime Minister Felix Kulov and for the dissolution of Parliament assaulted and threatened television reporters in the central square of Osh, a city in […]
Journalist attacked by unknown men after receiving death threats
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a joint Trade Union for Journalists in Kyrgzystan and Adil Soz alert: On 10 September 2005, at about 1:00 a.m (local time), Mahmud Kazakbayev, a reporter with “Demos Times” newspaper and the founder of Allians-Press advertising agency, was attacked by two unknown men in the city of Osh, Southern […]
Editor-in-chief of “Zhany muun” newspaper attacked
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a joint statement by Adil Soz and the Trade Union for Journalists in Kyrgyzstan: Jyldyz Bekbayeva, editor-in-chief of the socio-political newspaper “Zhany muun,” was severely assaulted on 11 September 2005 at about 11:30 a.m. (local time) while covering a demonstration in the village of Karasuu (Osh region, southern Kyrgyzstan). […]
Journalist arrested, state-run television and radio media prevented from reporting on protests as president flees amid unrest, fraud, censorship
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: One Kyrgyz journalist injured, another arrested: President flees amid unrest, fraud, censorship New York, March 25, 2005 – At least one Kyrgyz journalist was hospitalized with injuries and another arrested as police tried to break up the escalating unrest that prompted President Askar Akayev to flee […]
Bulgarian journalist assaulted, members of Russian television crew attacked by mob
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Appeal for Calm as Journalists are Among Victims of Kyrgyzstan Violence The International Federation of Journalists today called for an end to attacks on journalists and media staff in Kyrgyzstan after reports of three separate incidents of journalists falling victims to violence amid scenes of […]
Head of journalists’ union injured by police while covering protest
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 23 March 2005, Azamat Kalman, the chairman of the independent Trade Union of Journalists, was injured while police were dispersing protesters who were demanding President Askar Akayev’s resignation. At the time of the incident, Kalman was covering the protest in the capital, Bishkek. Shortly after the demonstration started, police pushed the […]
Radio station suspended days before parliamentary elections
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 February 2005 CPJ press release: Kyrgyzstan: Radio station suspended days before parliamentary elections New York, February 25, 2005 – A state broadcast regulator last night shuttered the popular Kyrgyz Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, known locally as Radio Azattyk, just three days ahead of the country’s parliamentary […]
Independent printing press shut down a few days before scheduled national elections
(Freedom House/IFEX) – The following is a 23 February 2005 Freedom House press release: KYRGYZSTAN: RESTORE INDEPENDENT PRINTING PRESS NEW YORK, February 23, 2005 – Freedom House today protested the shut-down of the only independent printing press in Kyrgyzstan, coming just four days before scheduled national elections. In the early morning hours of February 22, […]
President threatens legal action against opposition daily “MSN”
(RSF/IFEX) – On 18 February 2005, President Aksar Akayev told the government newspaper “Slovo Kyrgyzstana” that he intends to bring a libel action against the opposition daily “MSN” over an 8 February report listing all the news media which either he or his associates control. Akayev said he and his family were the victims of […]
President reigns in media in run-up to legislative elections
(RSF/IFEX) – In the run-up to the 27 February 2005 legislative elections, President Askar Akayev is using his control of Kyrgyzstan’s news media to smear or neutralise the opposition and avoid the political upheaval that has been seen in recent months following elections in Georgia and Ukraine, RSF said. The organisation called on President Akayev […]
Phoney e-mail messages sent to discredit opposition
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the head of the State Agency for Communications, Andrei Titov, to investigate a disinformation campaign in which e-mail messages designed to discredit a number of opposition figures were sent out on around 8 January 2005 from addresses belonging to the opposition websites http://www.Gazeta.kg and http://Centrasia.ru without the knowledge of […]