Two cameramen for investigative journalism outlet Kloop were sentenced to five years in prison for ‘inciting mass unrest’ for allegedly producing five videos critical of the government. The trial marked a degradation of judicial processes in Kyrgyzstan, as no evidence was presented to show that the cameramen participated in the production of the videos, nor how the videos themselves contributed to ‘inciting mass unrest’. The videos were also not published by Kloop, but by the YouTube-based media outlet, Temirov Live, whose head said he did not know the cameramen. The prosecution’s case rested on the cameramen’s confessions, but both (Alexander Alexandrov and Zhoomart Duulatov) said they confessed under duress and in exchange for a promise to be sentenced to house arrest or conditional release. Both recanted their confessions when the prosecution instead pursued prison sentences. Human rights and press freedom advocates condemned the sentences as aimed at silencing independent journalists and further undermining press freedom in the country.

Sources: Kloop, The Diplomat, Human Rights Watch

Kyrgyzstan enacted a new media law on 7 August that requires all traditional and online media outlets to register with the Cabinet of Ministers in order to operate. Journalists and human rights experts say the bill will allow the government to effectively control what media outlets publish, as the law does not allow for oversight or judicial review of the decisions to grant or revoke registration. A version of the media law was first introduced in 2022 but was withdrawn after public backlash. The presidential administration then sought the advice of the Venice Commission, convened a working group with journalists and media lawyers, and revised the law several times with the stated goal of finding a ‘compromise’ in line with international legal standards. However, the final version introduced to parliament in June removed nearly all these changes, suggesting the engagement with civil society was not in earnest.

Sources: Fergana, The Diplomat, European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)

A new law remade Kyrgyzstan’s electoral system before next year’s parliamentary elections. The existing parallel voting system will be replaced with a single non-transferable vote system based on 30 constituencies with three representatives each. At least one of every three representatives from each constituency must be a woman, meaning the country will reach its 30 per cent gender quota for the first time. The law also disadvantages smaller political parties, as the non-refundable candidate registration fee has been raised to KGS 9 million (about USD 103,000) for party-affiliated candidates, but will remain KGS 100,000(about USD 1,115) for independent candidates. Japarov has frequently backed loyal businessmen as independent candidates. International observers have also criticized the process of drawing electoral districts, which was done without the participation of or consideration for the country’s ethnic minorities and will likely further marginalize them from political processes.

Sources: Times of Central Asia, Office of the President, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

President Sadyr Japarov signed a law on 29 May requiring all trials to be recorded on video, for the recordings to be made available to all parties involved in the proceedings. The failure to make recordings available will also be grounds for appeal. The law will also allow for parties to a case to petition the court for a trial to be livestreamed online or broadcast on radio or television. Defence attorneys and rights advocates see the law, should it be fully and properly implemented, to be a step forward for justice in a country where judicial proceedings are frequently conducted behind closed doors and over the objections of the accused.  

Sources: EurasiaNet, Kaktus Media, President of Kyrgyzstan