Authorities and society should make efforts to keep independent media existing in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, any attempts to toughen control over media and censor content should be abandoned in the first place.

The trends demonstrate that the freedom of speech gets worse in the last five years

Experts of the School of Peacemaking and Media Technology emphasise that dynamics of risks of journalist activity has changed considerably in five years. 17 incidents against media workers were reported in 2018, 49 incidents in 2019, 102 incidents in 2020. Their number declined to 44 in 2021, and the number of attacks increased significantly in 2022.

 

According to analysis and documentation of attacks/threats against media workers in Kyrgyzstan, 130 incidents were reported in 2022[1], which is three times more than last year.

 

Chart 1. Dynamics of reported attacks and threats from 2018 to 2022

Legal mechanisms are used as the key method of pressure on journalists, bloggers and media workers.

 

In 2022, the number of detentions, arrests, questionings increased as a result of publications in the media, as well as the number of calls of journalists and bloggers for interviews as witnesses.

 

Threats and online attacks like trolling, bullying, cyber-attacks, including during live broadcasting on social media, are the risks for media workers.

 

Professional activity and safety of investigative journalists, who shed light on corruption, cover other sensitive topics and demonstrate opposing views in their reports, are at serious risk.

 

The criminal case against investigative journalist Bolot Temirov and his deportation from Kyrgyzstan last year, arrest and criminal case against blogger Yrys Zhekshenaliev and similar cases confirm these concerns.

 

Chart 2. Number of incidents reported in 2022 by categories Blocking of websites of Azattyk Media, ResPublica, attempted blocking of the website of the news agency 24.kg in 2022 on formal grounds, based on the law "On fake (false) information” is the result of the legislation expanding the powers of authorities to have control over the media landscape.

 

The new draft law "On mass media” brought up for public discussion contains such risks. It requires re-registration of all media outlets, imposes restrictions on funding from abroad, and provides for sanctions for unclear "abuse of freedom of speech.”

 

On the World Press Freedom Day, we demand that the authorities encourage independent journalism, pluralism, diversity of media and abandon pressure on this fundamental human right.

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The School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia announces an annual a competition among students from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, studying journalism and mass communication, law, cultural studies and anthropology, to participate in research and media monitoring projects.

Over the past six years, about 80 students have completed the research internships.

This internship is scheduled for the period from December 15, 2023 to January 25,

2024.

In some cases, a student can start an internship earlier.

The internship will be carried out in a distance format or offline.

The selected interns will be trained in new analytical tools, will have access to databases

and, together with the team, will conduct a few studies.

Participation in the project is a good practice, upon completion of which an internship

confirmation letter will be issued. An important criterion for selecting interns is language proficiency, perseverance, attentiveness, a clear application of methodology and indicators in practice, a desire to work with large amounts of information.

Topics for research this year:

Freedom of expression in the conflict time

Media хenophobia and hate speech (focused on local countries context)

Media and conflict

Information wars and geopolitics

A motivation letter and a CV including

the contacts of at least two referees should be sent to peacemakingandmediaca@gmail.comuntil 18:00 Bishkek time, October 6, 2023 marked "For internship".

Applications sent after this deadline will not be considered. The team does not comment on

the selection methods and does not respond to letters of inquiry after the end

of the call.

About the organization: The School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia is a media

development, peace communications and freedom of expression organization focused on countering hate speech, discrimination in the media, on the Internet and public discourse.

Our vision statement aims at encouraging diversity, human rights, peace fair journalism access to information and citizens making informed opinions as a means of promoting a tolerant society.

Since 2011, the School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia has

implemented nearly 20 programs focused on these activities.

 

 

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Opponents of Kyrgyz independent media must stop speaking because local audience prefer objective and diverse information, while media outlets serve public interests.

It’s due to independent media and journalists that Kyrgyzstan is still on best positions in international rankings[1], leaving all Central Asian states and many other states in the ex-Soviet area behind.

Attempts made by some groups who organised the protest in Bishkek demanding to close independent media outlets are against the constitution.  

They breach article 10 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, in particular regarding the statement that "media outlets are free and carry out their operations according to the law.”

The protest was held on October 13, 2022 in front of the Radio Azattyk office in Bishkek[2].

Moreover, the protest was organised amid consideration of the regular report by Kyrgyzstan on observation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee, which takes place this day.

An underhand initiative of deputies on countering independent media outlets and their demands of their closure are nothing else but attempts to escalate the situation in society.

Parliamentarian Dastan Bekeshev confirmed the fact of collection of signatures for closure of independent media outlets in his Telegram channel.

The School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in CA expresses its utmost concern about the fact that such actions intend to distract people’s attention from the current socio-political agenda and serious issues in Kyrgyzstan.

Use of the long-time leverage against independent media, setting them against society can have negative consequences.

We urge legislators, the government and organisers of similar actions to stop manipulating by independent media and to immediately respond to the threats voiced against media groups.

Attacks on the media and media workers increase every year in Kyrgyzstan.

According to the annual report of the School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in CA and the Justice for Journalists Foundation, the number of incidents against media has increased almost three times in the last five years in the country.

 

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A working meeting with experts of human rights organizations was held today on monitoring, documentation and case analysis of discrimination and violations of minorities’ and marginalized groups’ rights in Kyrgyzstan.

Methodology, markers and special forms of incident documentation were developed as part of the "Promoting media freedom and diversity through reporting on violation of rights and training of media workers in creating sensitive media reports on minority and marginalized groups”  with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI).

 

Experts and partners involved in the project were familiarized with innovative methods of information completion and special monitoring techniques. They were trained in methods of detailed case analysis based on international standards.

These cases will be processed by the analytical team and journalists to create stories and publish them on their websites. Over twenty cases are planned for documentation as part of the project.

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The media of Central Asia, who informed about last week’s armed clashes and cross-border violence between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan must use peace journalism tools, according to the message of the School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia.

 

Analysis of the media space showed that the armed clashes narratives dominated in daily news.

The audience received information on battles, victims, violence and military actions.

However, the media content was more war-oriented.

The media outlets published no materials focused on decisions offering and analysing various options of peaceful initiatives.

The School of Peacemaking encourages journalists and content creators to use peace journalism approaches. This approach helps editors and reporters to choose what and how to report on the events to consider non-violent response to the conflict.

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The School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia is announcing the call for participation in the "Reporting on minority and marginalised groups issues’ workshop” to be held in late October thru early November 2022 in Bishkek.

The working languages of the event are Russian, Kyrgyz.

Journalists and editors from Kyrgyzstan are invited to participate in the training. All costs will be covered by organisers.

To take part in the call, you have to submit a filled application form, a CV of a potential participant, a scanned copy of a passport, as well as a motivation letter for participation to the e-mail peacemakingandmediaca@gmail.com marked as "For training”.

The main criteria of selection will be their current activities in the sphere, understanding of importance of human rights and promotion of minority and vulnerable group issues in the media.

The deadline for applications is 5.00 pm Bishkek time, October 5, 2022.

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The team does not comment its selection methods and does not reply to requests after the competition is over.

The event will be held under the Peacemaking School’s programme on the promotion of media freedom and diversity, supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

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"The bill to further undermine the independence of the OTRK, independent journalism, and freedom of expression more broadly, in Kyrgyzstan,- pointed out Inga Sikorskaia, director of the Peacemaking and Media Technology School, a journalist who spent 10 years working as an editor in the Public Broadcasting Corporation at the beginning of her media career.
Further,  the legislation would contradict recommendations supported by Kyrgyzstan during its 3rd cycle of Universal Periodic Review aimed at strengthening democratic institutions by protecting freedom of expression and media freedom.

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Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ)andthe undersigned organisations, stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but particularly Ukrainian journalists who now find themselves at the frontlines of a large-scale European war.

We unilaterally condemn the violence and aggression that puts thousands of our colleagues all over Ukraine in grave danger.

We call on the international community to provide any possible assistance to those who are taking on the brave role of reporting from the war zone that is now Ukraine.

We condemn the physical violence, the cyberattacks, disinformation and all other weapons employed by the aggressor against the free and democratic Ukrainian press.

We also stand in solidarity with independent Russian media who continue to report the truth in unprecedented conditions.

Join the statement of support for Ukraine by signing it here.

#Журналісти_Важливі

Signed:

 

1. Justice for Journalists Foundation

2. Index on Censorship

3. International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech "Adil Soz”

4. International Media Support (IMS)

5. Yerevan Press Club

6. Turkmen.news

7. Free Press Unlimited

8. Human Rights Center "Viasna”

9. Albanian Helsinki Committee

10. Media Rights Group, Azerbaijan

11. European Centre for Press and Media Freedom

12. Association of European Journalists

13. School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia

14. Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan

15. Reporters Without Borders, RSF

16. Association of Independent Press of Moldova, API

17. Public Association "Dignity”, Kazakhstan

18. PEN International

19. Human Rights House Foundation, Norway

20. IFEX

21. UNITED for Intercultural Action

22. Human Rights House Yerevan

23. Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor, Armenia ??

24. Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, Norway

25. Society of Journalists, Warsaw

26. The Swedish OSCE-network

27. Hungarian Helsinki Committee

28. Legal policy research centre, Kazakhstan

29. Public Foundation Notabene – Tajikistan

30. HR NGO "Citizens’ Watch – St. Petersburg, Russia

31. English PEN

32. Public organization "Dawn” – Tajikistan

33. International Press Institute (IPI)

34. The Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan

35. ARTICLE 19

36. Human Rights House Tbilisi

37. Rights Georgia

38. Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center. Azerbaijan

39. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)

40. Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

41. Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

42. European Federation of Journalists

43. Social Media Development Center, Georgia

44. Populus Rei, Georgia

45. OBC Transeuropa

46. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

47. Journalists Union YENI NESIL, Azerbaijan

48. Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) , Istanbul

49. Baku Press Club

50. Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development Premium Times

51. Union Sapari

52. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)

53. Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression, Armenia

54. FEDERATIA SINDICATELOR DIN SOCIETATEA ROMANA DE RADIODIFUZIUNE, Bucharest, ROMANIA

55. CD FILMS (FRANCE)

56. CFDT-Journalistes

57. Belarusian Association of Journalists

58. SafeJournalists network

59. Association of Journalists of Kosovo

60. Association of Journalists of Macedonia

61. BH Journalists Association

62. Croatian Journalists’ Association

63. Independent Journalists Association of Serbia

64. Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

65. Analytical Center for Central Asia (ACCA)

66. Trade Union of Croatian Journalists

67. European Press Prize

68. Ethical Journalism Network

69. European Journalism Centre

70. Slovene Association of Journalists

71. Investigative Studios

72. PEN Belarus

73. Public Media Alliance (PMA)

 

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By mid-August, Taliban militants seized much of Afghanistan; on August 15, they took control of Kabul without a fight. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country; the Taliban try to establish their rule and intend to transform Afghanistan into Islamic Emirate. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is rethinking what happened: countries are deciding how to build foreign policy relations with new Afghanistan, as well as what to do with the refugees, who, presumably, will flee the country.

Inga Siukorskaia,Director of the School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia Inga Sikorskaya spoke with CABAR.asia Media School about how Central Asian media should cover the situation in order not to increase xenophobia in society towards refugees, and much more.

– How should the journalists report on refugees?

– According to the standards of covering diversity issues, which include such social groups as "refugees” (people who already have this status), "asylum-seekers” and "forced migrants” (those forced to move to a certain country out of fear for their lives and seeking refugee status), the journalist must first analyse how media covered this issue before and identify the gaps.

Often, the media report on such people only in crime news, or in a humiliating context, thereby instilling fear among the audience. A reporter should follow a peacemaking approach: spend a few days in a refugee camp with these people, describe what you saw, how they live, whether they have access to water, their children – to education, healthcare. Let them tell the story in their words. Find people among them who were able to reintegrate into society, and tell about them. Do not forget about ethical terminology and visual content.

During my recent trip to Afghanistan, I spoke a lot with colleagues and ordinary people and I think that in fact, no one intends to flee to Kyrgyzstan, for example. First, you will be surprised, but the Afghan people are the patriots of their country. They can bear the poverty, but the main thing for them – to stay at their homes. Second, those who want to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover do not intend to go to the Central Asian countries at all; they want to go to the United States, to Europe.

– Nevertheless, our authorities have already announced they are going to accept Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime.

– Yes, they announced the intention to accept 1.2 thousand people, but it is not a sure thing that it will be Afghans. It is quite possible that they meant ethnic Kyrgyz people from Badakhshan, who were previously not allowed across the Tajik border. In addition, we must understand that Afghans have already learned the difficult lesson in Kyrgyzstan: some people, who applied for asylum, lived here for 25 years, and left or died, without receiving refugee status.

– In addition, people are afraid not so much of those fleeing the Taliban, as of the Taliban themselves, who will now go to the Central Asian countries, as some experts claim.

– The Taliban have nothing to do here either. What happened in Afghanistan is the internal political processes and the geopolitical struggle for influence in the region, which various experts and politicians used in their mainstream forecasts to spread panic.

– It turns out that journalists help such politicians.

– To some extent. Even today, sensationalised media are contributing to the creation of a negative stereotype not only about refugees, who, by the way, did not appear yet, but also about any foreigners arriving in the country. They maintain and develop a prejudice against people dressed differently, or speaking different languages.

– How does this happen?

– Our society, unfortunately, has many negative stereotypes about Afghanistan. What are the media doing against the background of general hysteria and panic? They post tweets of unknown people without even checking the facts. Authoritative media quote users who post something like, "I went out for a cappuccino, and there were millions of Pakistanis around”.

– What is wrong with this tweet?

– The problem is not the tweet, but the fact that the media reposted it. The phrase "millions of Pakistanis” is exaggerating data. By publishing it, the media commits a gross journalistic error, relaying an outrageous stereotypical perception. It can be reposted, but, according to the journalistic standards and a peacemaking approach, it is necessary to place the facts in the appropriate context. This will remove the problem and enable the audience to understand what is happening in reality. Given the complex political environment, the context should be broad, neutral, not inciting hatred or fear.

Moreover, this is not the only example. You probably noticed the materials about Bishkek residents complaining about the alleged influx of foreigners to the capital of Kyrgyzstan. These messages are also based on user-generated content. Moreover, the media not only cite online users but also use their photos. The photos of people in unusual for Kyrgyz people clothes, possibly Pakistani or Indian students, are being reposted. These clothes are called Pashtun, although it is wrong. Therefore, by creating such messages, the journalists trigger certain groups of people and this, as a result, can lead to hate crimes.

– Would it be right to create a material explaining how Pashtun clothes differ from other national clothes?

– What for? People should not be judged by what they wear. This is unacceptable for the media. Focusing on differences in a particular socio-political context leads to intolerance and hostility. Social media users do this because they are incompetent and lack a degree of journalistic responsibility. But why do the journalists allow this? This is an intolerant approach. A person can wear any clothes, if, of course, we are not talking about some kind of dress codes in official institutions; he/she can speak the most comfortable language. In case the media want to show that there really are some rumors about an alleged influx of refugees, they should conduct an investigation using the tools of Peace Journalism: to talk to these people, understand who they are, and provide the audience with a big picture.

– The media tried to clarify the situation: they published the answers of the border service on how many foreigners had arrived in Kyrgyzstan.

– What was the point of finding this out? The foreigners are always a targeted group in such countries as Kyrgyzstan, where there is a problem with tolerance. In this situation, all of a sudden, the media asked the border guards for information about the number of foreigners who arrived in the country (from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc.). Why, in the current disturbing socio-political context, cover this topic in one-sided news? They should provide balanced news, and should not create fear. In addition, is Kyrgyzstan not positioning itself as a tourist destination? We should welcome any foreigners if so.

– What approach should be followed when covering refugees-related issues?

– Now, the main thing is to accurately verify the information and try to balance it. In peacemaking journalism, reporting should focus on peace rather than conflict. In Peace Journalism, there is a rule of "Three Don’ts”:

• do not soften the conflict;
• do not search for those guilty of the conflict;
• do not spread opinions and accusations as established facts.

This approach enables editors and reporters to make choices, that is, decide what facts and in what context to communicate to the audience for the consideration of non-violent responses to the conflict. The conflict here means not only a military conflict but also any situation that can become a source of potential conflicts in society.

– What should journalists remember when covering refugees-related issues?

– Before creating a negative image of people who may possibly arrive from the conflict zone, which I deeply doubt, we need to understand that each of us could find him/herself in their place. Now, I updated all my training materials for journalists and included there the practice of own feelings and understanding that the world is dynamic and unstable. No one can know what will happen tomorrow. The population of any country can be involved in a military conflict. That is, any of us can become a refugee and forced migrant in another country. Because of the appearance, language, cultural differences (which do not comply with some stereotypes in society), with the "support” of unethical, incompetent journalists, any person can be attributed to a target group hated by others.

Title photo: AFP / Scanpix / LETA

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This publication was produced as part of the mentorship programme under the Development of New Media and Digital Journalism in Central Asia project delivered by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) with support from the UK Government. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of IWPR or the UK Government

 

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