Kyrgyzstan: OSCE urges Bishkek to stop filtering independent media sources
Vienna office of the Organization for Cooperation and Security and Europe (OSCE) directed the letter to the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, Ferghana.Ru sources report. OSCE is concerned with filtering the internet-based independent media.
OSCE urges Kyrgyz government to observe its international liabilities on ensuring the freedom of speech and put efforts to resume the access to the number of Internet media sources and broadcast of Azattyk (Kyrgyz Service of RFE/RL) radio.
We already reported that since March 10 the web access to Ferghana.Ru news agency, Centrasia.Ru and Internet page of Belyi Parus have been blocked. The Azattyk radio programs, broadcasted at the frequencies of private TV and radio channels, were also suspended. Anonymous sources note that the authorities put pressure on local mass media, threatening to suspend their licenses.
Obviously, Kyrgyz authorities decided to create information vacuum after critical publications against Kyrgyz government. The serious damage to the image of President Kurmanbek Bakiev and his team was caused by the articles, outlining the involvement of financial expert Eugene Gourevitch (close to President’s son Maxim Bakeiv) in the crimes, organized by Italian mafia.
The observers believe that Kyrgyz government was wiling to stop further dissemination of news about protest actions in Naryn. On March 10 this region, located in the high mountains, hosted mass demonstration against higher electricity and heating prices.
Despite multiple letters, addressed to the government by the local civil and media organizations, Russian embassy in Kyrgyzstan, with the request to resume access to blocked media pages, there is still no progress in this field. Moreover, on the eve of United Opposition kurultai (national assembly), scheduled to March 17, the authorities arrested the circulation of the Forum opposition newspaper.
It has to be noted since March 10 the majority of local news agencies, internet editions and printed media have avoided publishing critical articles.