On Wednesday, a Kyrgyzstan court ordered the liquidation of independent broadcaster Aprel TV, terminating its broadcasting and social media operations. The ruling was born out of a lawsuit filed by Kyrgyz prosecutors, citing “negative and destructive” reporting of the government that could undermine its authority.
The court ruled that Aprel TV’s content fell under the “Not News” aggregate. Citing satirical political commentary and caricatures, the court found that the content has the potential to incite mass unrest and affect the psychological state of people and society as a whole. The case was initiated by the General Prosecutor’s Office, accusing the outlet’s coverage of destabilizing the government.
On July 1, ten current and former Aprel TV employees were summoned by the State Committee for National Security in connection with a separate, undisclosed criminal investigation. Legal representatives believe authorities may pursue charges related to incitement or threats to the constitutional order.
Aprel TV has around 70,000 subscribers. It was previously owned by the former Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev; however, the outlet in a statement stated that it was no longer affiliated with any politician or political forces.
Aprel TV responded to the lawsuit, noting that the complaint stated illegal information that had a negative connotation against the government. The outlet, while supporting the work of the enforcement agency against harmful actions, also stressed the importance of freedom of speech as the basis of a democratic society. Editor-in-Chief Dmitriy Lozhnikov responded to the ruling by defending the outlet’s right to scrutinise public officials, stating that criticising the government isn’t a crime, but one of the core functions of the press. President Sadyr Japarov has denied any allegations claiming the stifling of freedom of speech under his presidency, in an interview with a local news agency.
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the court’s decision, urging Kyrgyz authorities to allow Aprel TV to operate freely and prevent any obstruction of legal appeals. Pushback against Aprel TV has been part of the ongoing crackdown on dissent in Kyrgyzstan.
The government previously ordered the liquidation of Kloop Media, an independent reporting on national and regional affairs, and on June 25, the Kyrgyz Parliament passed the controversial Mass Media Bill, which imposes further media restrictions and press censorship. The law grants authorities the power to refuse the registration of media outlets, impede their work, and even shut them down. Additionally, all websites are now considered media outlets, and online publications, regardless of their content, must undergo mandatory registration to distribute information. The current bill mirrors several provisions that were present in the original draft bill proposed two years ago, which was met with significant public dissent and the formation of a working group.
On July 11, the president signed a bill that amends the Code of the Kyrgyz Republic on Offenses to impose fines for disseminating false information on the Internet and social media. Several human rights organisations have condemned the move and have called on President Japarov to refrain from signing the bill and uphold the constitutional right to freedom of expression and access to information.
