The Bishkek City Court has annulled an April decision by the Lenin District Court to shut down the operations of RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Radio Azattyk, over the broadcaster’s refusal to remove a video on clashes along a disputed segment of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.
The court announced the decision on July 12 during an appeal hearing by the broadcaster to have the move — which had been granted after a request from the Culture Ministry — annulled.
“As a result of concerted advocacy and support from the international community, Radio Azattyk will continue to reach its audiences with trusted reporting,” said acting RFE/RL President Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin.
“This welcome resolution is consistent with RFE/RL’s mission, principles, and journalistic standards.”
Kyrgyz authorities blocked Radio Azattyk’s websites in Kyrgyz and Russian in late October after it refused to take down the video in question, which was produced by Current Time, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with Voice of America.
Officials of the Central Asian state claimed that the authors of the video “predominantly” took the position of the Tajik side. They also said the decision was based on the Law on Protection from False Information, legislation that drew widespread criticism when it was adopted in August 2021.
Radio Azattyk’s bank account in Bishkek was also frozen after the websites were blocked, while in November Kyrgyz authorities suspended the accreditations of 11 RFE/RL correspondents at parliament.
RFE/RL immediately appealed what it called the court’s “outrageous” decision, saying the broadcaster “takes our commitment to balanced reporting seriously” and that after a review of the content in question, “no violation of our standards” was found.
The Kyrgyz government’s decision to block Radio Azattyk’s websites was sharply criticized by domestic and international human rights watchdogs, Kyrgyz politicians, celebrities, intellectuals, journalists, lawmakers, and rights activists, who have called for the government to repeal it.
Amnesty International said the allegation made by the Kyrgyz authorities about the video was false and a pretense for shutting down the broadcaster. It also reiterated its call for Kyrgyz authorities to stop the harassment and intimidation of journalists and government critics, and fully respect and protect freedom of expression for all media in Kyrgyzstan.
Source : RFEL
