Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 17th Jan. UN human rights office on Tuesday expressed concern over a series of raids carried out by security forces in Kyrgyzstan on independent media outlets, in a press statement issued in New York.
Spokesperson Liz Throssell said 14 journalists from the organizations were temporarily detained for questioning.
She said that officers from the State Committee for National Security arrived at the news agency 24.kg in Bishkek on Monday and seized equipment and detained three journalists for several hours, including its editor-in-chief.
Ms. Throssell told reporters in Geneva that the Ministry of Interior searched several other independent media organizations and detained 11 journalists and media workers for questioning.
She said that “These latest actions by the authorities appear to be part of a larger pattern of pressure against civil society activists, journalists and other critics of the authorities”.
Ms. Throssell stressed that arrest or detention, as punishment for the legitimate exercise of human rights, including freedom of expression, is forbidden under international human rights law.
She said that in this context, “it is all the more concerning that the Kyrgyz Parliament is considering a draft law on mass media, which would restrict the right to freedom of expression which includes media freedom.”
OHCHR has called on the authorities to protect freedom of expression and ensure that media legislation in the country is in line with international human rights standards.
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