Concern for journalists’ rights in the Kyrgyz Republic

 

While there have been very positive developments in mass media in the Kyrgyz Republic since the October 2000 presidential elections, with the registration and opening of new TV and radio stations in Bishkek, Batken, Osh, Talas, Tokmok and Jalal-Abad, in the last few weeks there have been several deeply troubling incidents of threatened freedom of speech and the rights of Kyrgyz journalists.

On March 13, 2001, the regional court of Jalal-Abad province reinstated a conviction verdict against the independent journalist Moldosali Ibraimov from Jalal-Abad. The Jalal-Abad city court sentenced the journalist to two years imprisonment and a fine of 107,000 KGS (about 2,200 USD) for libel under the criminal code of the Kyrgyz Republic in June 2000. Ibraimov had written articles on judicial corruption and was detained for several weeks in summer in 2000. After a successful appeal with help from Internews, the regional court overturned the initial ruling and he was released. However, Judge Kasymbekov, who had originally filed the lawsuit, appealed to the Supreme Court in November 2000, which returned the case to Jalal-Abad for reconsideration. Yesterday the regional court reinstated the conviction and original sentence and fine. Internews is now helping Ibraimov to prepare a new appeal for consideration to the Supreme Court in Bishkek.

               Also on March 13 the Southern Branch of the State Agency of Communications ordered the independent TV station Osh TV to stop broadcasting. Osh TV, one of the first independent TV stations in Central Asia, has been in a long-running conflict with the government over its broadcasting license and its use of a VHF broadcasting frequency. The crux of the conflict lies in a regulation stating that stations receive access to frequencies for the duration of their broadcasting license. Osh TV has a five-year license; yet its frequency permit was only granted for one year in March 1999 and was extended twice since then (till the end of the year 2000). It has not been renewed since January 2001. In November 2000 Osh TV filed a lawsuit in Bishkek Arbitration Court against the State Agency of Communications, accusing it of breaking the law “On Electronic and Postal Communications.” However, the Court decided in favor of the State Agency. Since then, Osh TV’s future is in jeopardy. A move to a different frequency would mean an extensive loss of audience due to technical difficulties and an investment of thousands of US dollars. Internews lawyers are working with Osh TV director Khalil Khudaiberdiev on possible actions, including the support of Osh TV in a new lawsuit to keep the station alive.

               The last few weeks have also seen the closure of the independent newspaper Asaba. Melis Eshimkanov, editor-in-chief of the paper, is facing several lawsuits and hefty fines of up to 5,000,000 KGS (100,000 USD). As result of a cooperation between Asaba and Res Publica, Asaba journalists are publishing their articles in Res Publica, another independent Bishkek newspaper. Internews lawyers are working with Melis Eshimkanov on potential appeals against the latest court case and claims against Asaba by the Bishkek tax police.           

Internews is deeply concerned about these attacks against freedom of speech and journalists’ rights in the Kyrgyz Republic and urges foreign representatives, international human rights organizations, Kyrgyz parliamentarians and local NGOs to support Kyrgyz journalists and bring these matters to the attention of the highest levels of the Kyrgyz government.

 

Chris Schuepp                                    Omurbek Sataev

Country Director                               Managing Director

Internews Network                            Internews Network

Kyrgyz Republic                                Kyrgyz Republic

 

Internews is a US-based non-governmental organization assisting media development in more than 20 countries around the world. It opened its representative office in Kyrgyzstan in 1995.Our legal staff is supported byUSAID, WPFC, Eurasia Foundation and SDC.

    

 

 

Press Release

 

The First Broadcast Day of “Radio Salaam” in Batken

 

A new independent radio-station, “Radio Salaam”, was recently established in the Batken oblast as a result of a joint project between UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), the Foundation for Tolerance International and the Public Association “Internews’’ in the Kyrgyz Republic.

March 16^th, 2001 marks the first broadcast day of “Radio Salaam” (FM 105), the new and only radio-station in the region. 18 hours of daily broadcasting are targeted at young audience. Programming is based on music, national and international, that goes in line with the age structure of the local audience.

The station will broadcast news every hour - local news as well as interesting reports from other regions of the Kyrgyz Republic and world events. This will allow citizens of Batken oblast to stay informed about changes in Kyrgyzstan and other parts of the world.

The young and creative staff of “Radio Salaam” was trained by “Internews-Kyrgyzstan” and uses innovative approaches in development of youth radio shows on problems concerning young people, education, health, economics, culture, sport and children’s rights.

A “Center of Youth Development” is established under the station where young people from Batken and local volunteers actively help to start new activities of this young and only electronic media outlet in the region.

 

Additional information can be obtained at UNICEF, please, contact Raiva Toigonbaeva, Public Relations Consultant, tel: (312) 660014, 660168, e-mail: [email protected]