KYRGYZSTAN
FEBRUARY 22, 2005
Posted: March 7, 2005
The Media Support Center
HARASSED
Authorities cut off electricity on February 22 to the country's only independent printing house. The Media Support Center, funded and operated by the U.S.-based non-governmental organization Freedom House, prints the country's major independent and opposition newspapers.
The action came in the run-up to the country's contentious February 27 parliamentary elections.
The printing house accused the Kyrgyzstani government of obstructing its work. Authorities claim the organization lacked proper documents, the Moscow Times reported. The printing house was able to continue functioning in limited capacity using power generators supplied by the U.S. embassy, the Moscow-based news Web site Fergana.ru reported.
FEBRUARY 24, 2005
Posted: March 7, 2005
Radio Azattyk (Kyrgyz Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
CENSORED
A state broadcast regulator shuttered the popular Kyrgyz Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, known locally as Radio Azattyk, just three days ahead of the country's parliamentary elections, according to local and international press reports.
The Production Association for Relay Lines, Television and Radio Broadcasting (RPO RMTR) told Radio Azattyk Director Kiaz Moldokasymov that an upcoming auction for the station's frequency had prompted the sudden closure, The Associated Press reported.
The auction date is March 10. The station normally signs an annual contract with RPO RMTR for the frequency; it submitted documents for renewal on February 8. Radio Azattyk reporters said they believed the suspension was related to politically sensitive parliamentary elections set for February 27, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.
The popular station's national reach and its willingness to criticize government officials have been particularly important to rural audiences who have little other access to independent sources of news, according to local reports.
MARCH 2005
Kyrgyz National Television & Radio
CENSORED
Senior government officials prevented journalists at the state-run Kyrgyz National Television & Radio Corporation (KTR) from reporting on rallies protesting fraud-marred parliamentary elections, according to local and international press reports.
The demonstrations toppled President Askar Akayev's administration, but state media was virtually silent on the unrest until Akayev fled on March 24. As opposition activists stormed government buildings that day, Kyrgyz state television broadcast nature programs. Two journalists and one opposition leader did appear on a state television news program later that night, urging calm and saying they would start reporting on events because KTR management had fled during the protests.
To that point, the failure of the state broadcaster to report on the demonstrations had angered protesters, who attacked KTR journalists in turn. "During the demonstrations and disturbances in the south, the [protesters] simply drove away the KTR journalists, breaking their expensive digital cameras," said Ernis Mamyrkanov, head of the non-governmental Osh Media Center, according to the London-based Institute for War & Peace Reporting.
On March 22, local media reported that some 90 journalists working for KTR sent a letter to managers protesting the censorship.
MARCH 23, 2005
Posted: March 28, 2005
Azamat Kalman, Journalists Trade Union
ATTACKED
Kalman, head of the country's independent Journalists Trade Union, suffered two broken legs while covering the escalating unrest that prompted President Askar Akayev to flee the country.
Kalman was beaten by police officers dispersing anti-Akayev protests in the capital, Bishkek, and then pushed off a 10-foot-high ledge by supporters of the president. Kuban Mambetaliyev, head of the Bishkek-based press freedom group Journalists, said Kalman was hospitalized.
The demonstrations came amid widespread anger over fraud-marred parliamentary elections—and after weeks of government censorship, harassment, and obstruction of the press.