The IPI global network demands the immediate release of 11 journalists detained yesterday in Kyrgyzstan following media publications critical of the country鈥檚 interior minister.
On Tuesday, January 16, authorities detained journalists collaborating with several independent publications, namely,, and. On the evening of January 17, the 11 media workers were for a period of two months, in relation to a criminal case opened for alleged 鈥渃alls for mass riots鈥�, which foresees penalties of five to eight years in prison for those convicted.聽
Kyrgyzstani media the arrested journalists as Makhabat Tajibek Kyzy, Sapar Akunbekov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliev, Aktilek Kaparov, Tynystan Asypbekov, Maksat Tajibek Uulu, Joodar Buzumov, Jumabek Turdaliev, Aike Beyshekeeva and Akyl Orozbekov.
Authorities claimed that unspecified articles contained calls for the use of violence. On his Facebook page, Temirov Live founder Bolot Temirov that the arrests may have been prompted by a recent investigation by Temirov Live into the misuse of public funds by Interior Minister Ulanbek Niyazbekov. He noted that all of the arrested journalists were current or former collaborators of Temirov Live and rejected the claim that those detained had engaged in 鈥渃alls for mass riots鈥�.
鈥淚n reality, the arrests are for our professional activities, for our investigations,鈥� Temirov told IPI.
鈥淥f course, there were no calls [for riots]. [Authorities are] equating [alleged] discreditation [of an official] with calls [for riots]. Which is absurd, since the criminal code clearly states that there must be a call to violence, and there is nothing like this in our publications. There are facts about mansions [owned by] the minister of interior, the fuel business of his uncle, as well as complaints against law enforcement officers.鈥�
He added: 鈥淭here is a tendency towards clamping down on freedom of speech by President Sadyr Japarov and his people, with the participation of security forces and the State Committee of National Security, as well as support from prosecutors and the judiciary.鈥�
Temirov also said that all those detained were asked about his current country of residence, and that the arrest of Makhabat Tajibek Kyzy, his wife, was an attempt to coerce him into ceasing his activities. A dual Kyrgyz-Russian citizen, Temirov was deported from Kyrgyzstan in 2022, in a move condemned by IPI and other organizations.
In addition to the arrests, security forces searched the offices of Temirov Live in Bishkek, confiscating all electronic devices used by the media outlet鈥檚 team, Temirov told IPI. Searches were also carried out at the homes of several other journalists, independent outlet Kloop.kg reported. According to Kloop, which the Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior, security forces seized a total of 162 devices from various journalists throughout the day.
The series of arrests and searches was accompanied by statements attacking the media made by representatives of President Japarov. Deputy minister of culture and ex-journalist claimed yesterday that journalism in Kyrgyzstan had 鈥渄egenerated鈥� and that journalists 鈥渆xaggerate the information they publish鈥�. 鈥淩ecent events are not [a form of] pressure,鈥� Tagayev said in an online discussion aired by local media outlet Azattyk.
Additionally, presidential advisor Cholponbek Abykeev that the detained journalists had 鈥渃onfused freedom of speech and democracy with anarchy鈥�, claiming that Kyrgyz society needed to 鈥渓earn [..] to express opinions in a respectful manner.鈥�
鈥淭he mass jailing of journalists in apparent response to their coverage of public officials is a serious attack on press freedom, and the latest sign of Kyrgyzstan鈥檚 growing intolerance for critical journalism鈥�, IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen. 鈥淚t is absurd to equate reporting on possible wrongdoing 鈥� which is a core function of journalism in any democracy 鈥� with instigating riots.鈥�
鈥淲e call on Kyrgyz authorities to immediately release the journalists in custody and to end their pattern of harassing journalists and independent media outlets.鈥�
Long seen as a beacon of hope for freedom of the press and civil liberties in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has become more dangerous for journalists and political activists since the election of President Sadyr Japarov in 2021. In September, authorities put forward politically motivated accusations to block access to Kloop.kg, a major independent news outlet which was shortlisted for the IPI-IMS Free Media Pioneer award in 2023. Currently, courts in Kyrgyzstan are examining a lawsuit filed by the country鈥檚 Ministry of Culture, which demanded Kloop鈥檚 liquidation.
Azattyk, the Kyrgyz branch of the U.S. Congress-financed media corporation RFE/RL, faced a similar legal ordeal throughout 2023, enduring access blocks lasting nearly a year before Kyrgyz authorities backed down on their earlier decision, in July last year.
In parallel, the country鈥檚 parliament has a law on 鈥渇oreign representatives鈥� largely inspired by Russian legal norms on 鈥渇oreign agents鈥� which have dealt a serious blow to Russian independent journalism, especially since the start of Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.