Kyrgyzstan: a criminal case was opened against the media under the article “Propaganda of war”
The Prosecutor General’s Office opened a criminal case on the publication in Cactus Media because of the news about the armed conflict in the border zone. This was reported by the press service of the department.
On January 27, Cactus Media published an article about the armed conflict in the border zone. In the article, the media provided information about what causes of the conflict were called in the neighboring state. The publication was sharply reacted on social networks; some people even went to the rally. Later, journalists connected the rally participants with the authorities.
In the media itself, the publication was explained by the desire to give an objective picture of what was happening. Despite the fact that the journalistic community supported their colleagues, calling the act of the publication professional, the Prosecutor General’s Office saw illegal actions in the actions of the media representative.
“The publication contains unreliable information that the armed forces personnel of the Kyrgyz Republic were the first to start shooting, thereby provoking the Republic of Tajikistan,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said, opening a criminal case on this publication.
In particular, on this fact, the Prosecutor’s Office of Pervomaiskiy district of Bishkek initiated a criminal case under Article 407 “Propaganda of war, that is, dissemination of views, ideas or appeals in any form with the aim of causing aggression of one country against another or unleashing a military conflict” of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.
This article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of up to five years or a fine of $600 to $1,200. If this act is committed by an official in a responsible position, it’s punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to seven years, with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions, or engage in certain activities for up to three years.
It should be noted that the media in Kyrgyzstan, citing the founder of the publication office, Dina Maslova, reported that the editorial staff of Cactus Media was summoned for interrogation.
“We officially learned about it yesterday. The editorial staff was under interrogation, and they took a non-disclosure agreement from us. We pass as witnesses. That’s all I can say. For now, we are conferring with lawyers on further actions,” Maslova told 24.kg news agency.
