The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Tuesday called for the reversal of a Kyrgyzstan court ruling issued the previous day. The Oktyabrsky District Court ruled that publications by the investigative outlets Temirov Live and Kloop are extremist and should be banned. 

This marks the first time Kyrgyzstan has declared news outlets to be extremists, with the ruling banning the outlets from publishing online and preventing other outlets from distributing their content. Speaking to CPJ, Kloop’s founder, Rinat Tuhvatshin, expressed concern that while it is unclear how the authorities will apply the law, given its novelty, sharing or liking the outlets’ publications could now be considered support for extremist organizations. 

Both news outlets regularly published investigations into corruption allegations by Kyrgyz state officials, including President Japarov. Temirov Live’s founder, Bolot Temirov, won the 2025 International Press Freedom Award for having endured police harassment, expulsion from the country, and even imprisonment.

Hostile treatment of journalists and civil society is not uncommon in Kyrgyzstan, with activists and journalists being sentenced to life imprisonment for what rights groups label as politically motivated news censorship. Since Kyrgyzstan’s 2022 press freedom crackdown, both media outlets have been operating in exile. In 2025 alone, the country introduced a fake news law, raided the homes of Kloop staff, arresting eight, shut down the broadcaster Aprel TV for allegedly undermining government authority, and jailed two Kloop journalists for five years. CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator noted: “This unprecedented decision shows how far Kyrgyzstan has fallen under President Japarov from its former status as a press freedom haven.”

President Japarov signed the fake news law last July, requiring all media outlets to register with the state and restricting foreign entities from owning media outlets in Kyrgyzstan. The law specifies that anyone who prints criticism or alternative views may be barred from publishing. The president has since amended the law to include penalties for non-compliance.

The court decision reinforces the country’s assault on independent reporting, with rights groups condemning Kyrgyzstan for straying from its commitment to international law. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Kyrgyzstan has ratified, notably protects freedom of expression, including that of journalists exposing corruption in their countries.