Amendments Offered by the Ministry of Justice to the legislation bear real threat for a freedom of speech

BISHKEK - « In Kyrghyzstan it is created dangerous precedent which is real threat for the major gain of our country - freedom of speech », - spoken in the statement of PA "Internews" from October 16, 2006.

Let's remind, today, on October 16, in Jogorku Kenesh amendments to the legislation were discussed, in particular, in laws « About a freedom of worship and the religious organizations », « About mass-media », « About law-enforcement bodies », including « the rights of citizens to be going peacefully, without the weapon, freely to carry out meetings of demonstration ». Amendments are initiated by Minister of Justice Marat Kajypov, voting on a question will take place in the parliament on October 19.

As they say in the letter of "Internews", « while at an official level assurances of adherence of democracy and a freedom of speech continuously sound, in practice to laws in force made toughening additions and changes ».

« Today, on October 16, at session in Jogorku Kenesh of KR amendments to the legislation, mass media regulating activity were discussed. In particular, it is offered to punish journalists and mass-media as imprisonment from 5 till 10 years for distribution of extremist materials to mass media », - it is spoken in circulation of "Internews".

As counts Public Association of "Internews" in Kyrghyzstan, « the given unjustified toughening of the legislation conducts to amplification of self-censorship in mass-media of KR and is threat for development of journalism ».

« Now a number of the nongovernmental organizations in sphere of mass-media conducts active campaign on restriction of criminal punishment for publications in mass media. It is necessary to apply the civil legislation to finding-out of infringement of the legislation by mass media, not supposing in no event imprisonment of journalists, - is spoken in the statement. - Offered amendments not only postpone the Kirghiz information legislation from the international standards in the field of a freedom of speech, but also contradict the positions of Constitution of KR declaring a freedom of speech and independence of mass-media in our country ».

PA "Internews" calls deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh of KR « to protect the rights of mass media on a freedom of speech and to approve of the amendment according to the international standards of the information legislation using the civil legislation concerning mass-media and journalists ».