Russian journalists wrote an appeal demanding an end to the persecution of journalists from independent Kyrgyz publications.
On Monday, January 15, security forces came to search the editorial office of the 24.kg agency in the case of “war propaganda.” Journalists of the publication associate the persecution with articles about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The next day, the police searched the office of the Temirov Live investigators and their Ait Ait Dese unit. Later, the journalists were also accused of “calling for mass riots,” and 11 people were arrested in this case. The publications themselves deny all accusations.
“In recent years, a distinctive and strong school of journalism has emerged in Kyrgyzstan, including investigative journalism. There are several strong, modern and independent media projects operating in the country. Kyrgyz journalists were not afraid to talk about oligarchs close to power. <…> These investigations were read and discussed in Kyrgyz society, they were commented on by politicians and public figures,” the appeal says.
Russian journalists note that the persecution of their Kyrgyz colleagues began several years ago. Thus, in the fall of 2022, the founder of the Temirov Live project, Bolot Temirov, was expelled from the country, and a year later the republican authorities blocked the website of the independent publication Kloop. In addition, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan — the Jogorku Kenesh — is currently considering a bill on “foreign agents”, written according to the Russian model.
“The authorities of Kyrgyzstan declared war on civil society and chose repression as a weapon. And of course, such repressions are a demonstration to everyone who decides to engage in investigative journalism in Kyrgyzstan that there are topics that cannot be dealt with,” the appeal notes.
In addition, Russian journalists called on “democratic countries to begin diplomatic contacts with the aim of speedily releasing journalists and ending criminal cases against them.”
The editors of Mediazona join the appeal. It was also signed by investigative journalists Andrei Zakharov and Mikhail Maglov, co-founder of the Nemtsov Foundation Zhanna Nemtsova, editor of “Important Stories” Roman Anin and other journalists.
“Mediazone. Central Asia” wrote in detail about the persecution of journalists in Kyrgyzstan.