Affiliated media: Radio Azattyk, Online media

Incident date: October 26, 2022

Attack type:

• Shutting down a media outlet / blocking an Internet site/ seizure of an entire print run

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: bulak.kg

Location: Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Additional information:

On October 26, the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic suspended the Azattyk Media website for two months, citing the law on protection against inaccurate information. The reason for the temporary blocking was the video material posted on the Current Time resource titled «Heavy battles on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan | ASIA». It was reported that the material was «contrary to the national interests of the Kyrgyz Republic (unreliable information about the events of September 14-17, 2022) and contained hate speech, information that provoked hatred, discrimination and split the citizens in the coverage of the events in the Batken region». However, lawyers, human rights activists and media experts stated a number of violations in the blocking. There were no grounds for applying the law. In addition, there was no complainant on whose complaint, according to the law, the web resource could be blocked.