Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has passed a contentious bill that significantly increases state control over media outlets, raising serious concerns about press freedom in the country. The legislation mandates that all news websites register with a government-authorized body and grants the state the authority to issue or revoke media licenses at its discretion. Critics, including legal experts and media watchdogs, argue that this law could be used to suppress independent journalism and silence critical voices. The Media Policy Institute, a local rights group, warned that the bill would “significantly limit the ability of the media to operate” and urged President Sadyr Japarov not to approve it. However, Japarov, who has previously targeted opposition voices, is expected to sign the bill into law. Once regarded as a regional leader in media freedom, Kyrgyzstan has experienced a notable erosion of press independence in recent years, marked by arrests, legal constraints, and the shutdown of dissenting outlets.
Human Rights Watch has expressed deep concern over the new legislation, stating that it “threatens to significantly weaken media freedom and protection against torture in the country.” The organization highlighted that the bill grants authorities wide powers to deny media outlets registration, obstruct their work, and close them down without judicial oversight. They also noted that the bill was rushed through parliament without adequate time for review, violating procedural regulations. Human Rights Watch has called on President Japarov to veto the bill and send it back to parliament for proper review and revision.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has also criticized the bill, urging President Japarov to veto it. They argue that the legislation could be used to silence critical media outlets and that the government should engage in meaningful consultation with the media and press freedom advocates to ensure that any new version of the bill does not infringe on freedom of expression.
The bill also imposes restrictions on foreign ownership in media companies, limiting foreign participation to no more than a 35 percent ownership stake. This provision has raised concerns among international media organizations, which fear that it could lead to increased state control over the media landscape and further suppress independent journalism.
These developments mark a significant shift in Kyrgyzstan’s media landscape, moving away from the relative openness it once had compared to other Central Asian nations. The passage of this bill has sparked widespread concern among journalists, human rights organizations, and international observers, who fear that it could lead to increased censorship and a further decline in press freedom in the country.
Leave a comment