Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister demands from the newspaper about $ 150 000
Vice Prime Minister Jenish Razakov sued against the newspaper “Asia News” to protect honor and dignity because of material about his alleged connection with Tajik intelligence service. The official demands compensation of 10 million KGS ($ 143.2 thousand).
The case against the newspaper “Asia News, which was sued by Vice Prime Minister Jenish Razakov, would be considered in the Oktyabr District Court of Bishkek. NGO “Journalists” reports about this with reference to the Press service of the Government of Kyrgyzstan.
Information about Razakov’s connection with the intelligence service of a neighboring state appeared after the conflict on the border territories of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Jenish Razakov headed the delegation of Kyrgyzstan during the negotiations. The version of Razakov’s involvement in Tajik intelligence was voiced by deputies. In April 2019, Jenish Razakov even threatened to sue parliamentarians for disseminating false information. However, he decided to confine himself to a lawsuit towards the media.
“The material “Is Razakov an agent of Tajikistan?” was published in our newspaper in March of this year. It was a question. Six months have passed since then, and only now Razakov has sued for 10 million KGS to protect honor and dignity. I think that this is pressure on freedom of speech and political pressure on the publication office,” editor-in-chief of “Asia News” wrote on his Facebook page.
Recall, the Oktyabr District Court is already considering a lawsuit against “Asia News” from Interior Minister Kashkar Dzhunushaliev. He claims the compensation of 5 million KGS for “false information and collage” published in the newspaper.
