Kyrgyz police raid, search independent journalists’ homes  

Kyrgyz police on Tuesday raided and searched homes of about a dozen independent journalists. Some of them were taken to a police station and questioned on suspicion of calling for mass disturbances, the police said. 

The targeted journalists represent the multi-media Temirov Live, Ait Ait Dese, Archa Media information projects and PolitKlinika website. All are known for doing journalistic investigations into official corruption.  

The Interior Ministry said the measures were part of a criminal investigation linked to a publication on Ait Ait Dese and Temirov Live social media pages that allegedly carried information calling for mass disturbances. It did not specify the publication. 

A post on Temirov Live Facebook page alleged that the Tuesday crackdown was “revenge” by Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov for the recent interview on Temirov Live YouTube channel that “revealed his wrongdoings”. 

In December, the channel published a report alleging Minister Niyazbekov’s link with criminal groups involved in smuggling fuel.

Independent journalist Leila Saralayeva described the police actions as “a reprisal against journalists”.  

She said all the questioned journalists worked in the past or were still working for Temirov Live and all had been involved in “doing powerful investigations into the Two Friends’ and their families’ dealings”. 

The Kyrgyz civil society has dubbed President Sadyr Japarov and Security Chief Kamchybek Tashiyev as Eki Dos, which means Two Friends.  

The two came to power amid anti-government protests in October 2020 with support from criminal groups. 

The government has in recent months been cracking down on independent media, businesspeople and criminal gangs, in a bid to cement its grip on power.  

President Sadyr Japarov on Monday pledged to provide “a harsh response to those who seek to stir up unrest, involving the masses”.  

He added the government would “act pre-emptively and uncover evil-minded leaders, who are ready to bring people out” onto the streets. 

Also on Monday, the security services raided and searched the office of 24.kg news website. Its director and two editors were questioned over a publication related to the war in Ukraine. 

In November the website carried a report alleging that a Kyrgyz company was helping Russia to buy Ukrainian-made aircraft spare parts in violation of international sanctions. 

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