In a distressing turn of events, the Oktyabr’ District Court in Kyrgyzstan issued a ruling on February 9, 2024, to shut down Kloop Media, a prominent human rights media outlet. This decision comes in the wake of mounting pressure from the Prosecutor's Office of Bishkek, which filed a motion to close Kloop Media's operations, alleging that the outlet exceeded the scope of its charter by engaging in media activities.
Founded in 2007, Kloop Media has been a stalwart advocate for human rights in Kyrgyzstan, earning recognition for its transparent coverage of the April 2010 revolution. Committed to principles of independence and impartiality, Kloop has used investigative journalism to expose corruption and document human rights violations, playing a vital role in holding power to account.
The prosecution's case against Kloop Media hinges on forensic linguistic and political science reviews commissioned by the authorities in 2023. These reviews allege that Kloop's content influenced public opinion negatively towards Kyrgyzstan's relations with Russia and undermined trust in state authorities. However, during court hearings, it was revealed that the author of one of the expert reviews disowned their work, casting doubt on the credibility of the prosecution's evidence.
Furthermore, Kloop Media's attorneys raised concerns about the composition of the texts analyzed in the reviews, which included official publications of Kloop and personal writings of its former founder. Despite lacking empirical evidence, the prosecution's experts claimed that Kloop's reporting exacerbated mental health issues and provoked migration from certain regions. However, their assertions were unsubstantiated and failed to withstand scrutiny.
Additionally, the Ministry of Justice argued that Kloop Media, registered as a foundation, was ineligible to produce media content. However, Kloop had since re-registered and amended its statute to comply with regulations, allowing it to operate as a media outlet. Despite this, the prosecution persisted in seeking to prohibit Kloop's activities.
Oasis World Vision (OWV) strongly condemns the court's decision to shut down Kloop Media, viewing it as an attack on press freedom and legitimate human rights work. Front Line Defenders echoes this sentiment, expressing concern over the broader trend of threats against journalists and human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan. They argue that such actions contribute to the erosion of rights and freedoms in the country.
As Kloop Media prepares to appeal the court's ruling, it stands as a symbol of resilience in the face of censorship. The outcome of this case will not only determine the fate of Kloop but also serve as a litmus test for the state of press freedom in Kyrgyzstan.
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