Kyrgyzstan / Europe & Central Asia

  
Kyrgyz journalist and rights advocate Azimjon Askarov is seen on January 24, 2017. CPJ recently signed on to a letter to Frederica Mogherini, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, urging for his release. (AP/Vladimir Voronin)

CPJ calls for Kyrgyzstan probe into 2020 death of CPJ award winner Askarov

New York, July 24, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kyrgyz authorities to conduct a thorough, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding journalist Azimjon Askarov’s death, ahead of the fifth anniversary of his passing on Friday.    Authorities have stated that Askarov died in prison on July 25, 2020, from complications related to COVID-19. But they have failed…

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Kyrgyzstan tightens control over media with new false news laws

New York, July 15, 2025—President Sadyr Japarov signed amendments to the Kyrgyz Code of Offenses on July 8, introducing administrative penalties for spreading “false or unreliable” information via mass media or the internet — another in a series of ongoing moves toward cracking down on the country’s independent press. The law, whose signing was announced July 11, will go…

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Dmitriy Lozhnikov, editor in chief of Aprel TV, presents during an episode of the broadcaster’s flagship news show. A Kyrgyz court shuttered the outlet on July 9, 2025. (Screenshot: Telekanal Aprel/YouTube)

Kyrgyzstan shutters critical broadcaster Aprel TV for undermining gov’t authority

New York, July 11, 2025—A Kyrgyzstan court issued an order Wednesday shuttering independent broadcaster Aprel TV and terminating its broadcasting and social media operations, claiming the outlet undermined the government’s authority and negatively influenced individuals and society.  The ruling was the result of a lawsuit filed against the outlet by Kyrgyz prosecutors in April, which…

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Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov attends a session of the EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 4, 2025. (Photo: AFP/Vyacheslav Oseledko)

CPJ: Kyrgyz president must veto ‘dangerous’ media law

New York, July 2, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov to veto a new mass media law that would require all publications to register with the state and heavily restricts any foreign legal entities from founding or owning media outlets. Parliament passed the bill, which would allow an authorized state body…

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Ziyagul Bolot kyzy, Aleksandr Aleksandrov, Aidai Erkebayeva and Zara Sadygalieva are among eight former and current Kloop staffers arrested and interrogated by Kyrgyz authorities about their work. (Screenshot: Азаттык /YouTube)

Kyrgyz authorities raid homes, offices of Kloop news staff, arrest 8

New York, May 30, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kyrgyz authorities to end the legal persecution of eight former and current Kloop news website staffers arrested this week—including journalists Aleksandr Aleksandrov and Joomart Duulatov, who on Friday were remanded into pretrial detention until July 21 on charges of calling for mass unrest. “Following Kloop’s forced shutdown last…

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Aprel TV Credit YT Telekanal Aprel. Caption can be something like: Aprel TV presenter Valeriy Zhernakov reports on an application by Kyrgyz prosecutors to shutter his broadcaster during a news broadcast on April 23. Credit: YouTube/Telekanal Aprel

Kyrgyz authorities move to shutter Aprel TV over ‘negative’ government coverage

New York, April 24, 2025 —The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a lawsuit filed by Kyrgyz prosecutors against independent broadcaster Aprel TV, which the outlet reported on April 23, over alleged “negative” and “destructive” coverage of the government. “Kyrgyz authorities continue a deplorable pattern of shuttering news outlets on illegitimate grounds that their ‘negative’ reporting could spark…

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Temirov Live’s director Makhabat Tajibek kyzy (right) and presenter Azamat Ishenbekov.

Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court upholds lengthy prison terms for Temirov Live journalists

New York, February 25, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by the Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court’s February 25 decision confirming sentences against three Temirov Live journalists on charges of calling for mass unrest, including a six-year prison term for Makhabat Tajibek kyzy, director of the anti-corruption investigative outlet, a five-year prison term for presenter Azamat…

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Following current President Sadyr Japarov’s rise to power, Kyrgyz authorities have launched an unprecedented assault on independent reporting. (Photo: Reuters/Evgenia Novozhenina)

Kyrgyzstan government recriminalizes libel and insult laws 

New York, February 21, 2025 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kyrgyz authorities to reverse amendments to the country’s Code of Offenses, which took effect February 10, that recriminalize libel and insult on the internet and in media. “Kyrgyzstan’s implementation of legislation that will make it easier to fine news outlets for defamation and insult…

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Temirov Live’s director Makhabat Tajibek kyzy (right) and presenter Azamat Ishenbekov.

Kyrgyzstan court upholds convictions of 4 anti-corruption journalists

New York, December 18, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Kyrgyzstan court’s decision upholding convictions against four journalists from anti-corruption investigative outlet Temirov Live, two of whom were sentenced to lengthy prison terms. On Wednesday, the Bishkek City Court upheld an October 10 first instance court decision sentencing Makhabat Tajibek kyzy to six years in prison, Azamat Ishenbekov to five years…

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Following current President Sadyr Japarov’s rise to power, Kyrgyz authorities have launched an unprecedented assault on independent reporting. (Photo: Reuters/Evgenia Novozhenina)

CPJ details Kyrgyzstan’s media crackdown ahead of UN human rights review

The Committee to Protect Journalists has submitted a report on the state of press freedom and journalist safety in Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations Human Rights Council ahead of its 2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session. CPJ’s submission, together with Austria-based human rights group Freedom for Eurasia and the Free Russia Foundation, highlights the sharp…

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