Lawyers of the Media Policy Institute (MPI) commented on the temporary ban on SuperTV journalists from entering the building of Jogorku Kenesh and covering the work of the Parliament. Human rights activists note that such a decision is unreasonable and contrary to the law.
The ban on SuperTV journalists from covering the work of the Parliament became known on May 18. According to the head of the press service of the Parliament, Erkinbek Kaimov, this decision was made after the journalist of TV channel, Takhmina Kenzhebek kyzy, quarreled with the deputy Nadira Narmatova, when the journalists were preparing a story about the prices of dishes in the dining room of the Parliament.
The actions of the film crew caused aggression on the part of MP Narmatova. The next day at the checkpoint of the Parliament, the staff of SuperTV wasn’t on the list of accredited journalists. According to the MPI, these actions by the head of the press service of the Parliament (Erkin Kaimov) are a gross violation of the guarantees for ensuring the freedom of the media.
The organization specifies that, according to Article 4 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, the state power of Kyrgyzstan is based on the principles of openness of state authorities and local self-government bodies and their officials in the exercise of their powers in the interests of the people. In accordance with part 2 of Article 83 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, parliamentary sessions are held openly, if the nature of the issues under consideration doesn’t require closed sessions.
“These norms mean that any citizen, including journalists, subject to the established rules, have the right to attend parliamentary meetings,” the lawyers of the Media Policy Institute explain.
At the same time, favorable conditions are created for accredited journalists to promptly and objectively inform the public about the activities of the Parliament and more extensive rights are provided for work.
“They are provided with information in advance about the agenda of the issues under consideration. They have free access to attend meetings. The accreditation certificate gives them the right to enter (exit) with sound recording, filming and lighting equipment in the Parliament building. The right to attend meetings of experts, interested parties, as well as mass media accredited in the Parliament, is enshrined in the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On the regulations of Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic” in part 12 of Article 2. Accredited journalists, who constantly cover the activities of the Parliament, have the right to attend not only at meetings, but also at other open events held by committees, factions, commissions and deputies,” the lawyers specify.
The Media Policy Institute expressed extreme concern over the current situation around accredited journalists of the information resource “SuperTV”, who have been denied access to work in the Parliament building for two days.
“Such a position of the responsible persons of the Parliament will hinder the professional activities of the journalists,” the report says.
The Laws of the Kyrgyz Republic “On the regulations of Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic” and “On the protection of the professional activities of a journalist”, as well as the Rules for the accreditation of media journalists in the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, published on the official website, provide a journalist (under the agreement with the media) with the right to be accredited with a state body and regulate the journalist’s rights and obligations.
“The actions of the head of the press service are regarded as an unauthorized deprivation of the accreditation of SuperTV, because they are not justified and violate the rules on the termination of the journalist’s accreditation, provided for in the Rules of accreditation. In accordance with paragraph 4.1. of these Rules, only the Parliamentary Commission has the right to consider the issue of depriving a journalist of accreditation, in cases where the journalist or the media committed repeated violations of public order and norms of conduct during parliamentary events and if untrue information discrediting the honor and dignity of deputies was disseminated, which confirmed by a court decision that has entered into legal force,” the lawyers say.
They clarify that the journalists of SuperTV didn’t violate any legal or ethical standards. Meetings of the profile committee of the Parliament or the Commission on this issue weren’t held; the issue wasn’t considered at the plenary session either. There is no document that would cancel the accreditation of the above-mentioned media.
“We regard the actions of the head of the press service (Mr. Kaimov) as an abuse of his official powers. The Media Policy Institute believes that the Prosecutor’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic should give a legal assessment of the actions of parliamentary officials that impede the legal activities of the media,” the document says.
