Journalists of Kyrgyzstan Ask to Pull the “Law on Mass Media”

Human rights activists, lawyers and the media community have criticized the draft of the new law “On mass media” in Kyrgyzstan. The acting presidential administration prepared it.

They believe that the document seriously undermines freedom of expression and could be the beginning of the end for many publications.

24.KG reports that certain provisions of the document jeopardize independent media and journalists.

The authorities intend to introduce a number of different rules and requirements. The criteria contain vague wording of restrictions and prohibitions. Non-compliance can lead to liquidation. The procedures for registering mass media are significantly more complicated. This will also apply to websites.

The document also refers to a ban on the dissemination of certain categories of information not only in the media but also on the Internet. Journalists urge the authors of the bill to abandon the idea of destroying free media.

Kyrgyz lawyers have claimed that the draft law has been taken from a Russian one. Some rules, however, have been tightened in the Kyrgyz version.