On 4th June the operator of «Watch» tv-programme was attacked by unknowns in Bishkek. On 5th June deputy chief editor of «Achyk Policy» newspaper( «Public Policy») Abduvahab Moniev was beaten in Bishkek.

Earlier, in March, the political columnist of «Reporter-Bishkek» newspaper Syrgak Abdyldaev was severely beaten. A few days later the chief operator of TV and radio channel «OshTV» Bakhadir Kenzhebaev was beaten by in Osh. At the end of March the chief editor and correspondent of the newspaper «Moskovsky Komsomolets» Ulugbek Babakulov and Elena Ageyeva were robbed and beaten in Bishkek.

Institute of Media Representative in Kyrgyzstan [ru] expresses its deep concern with the continuing attacks on journalists and calls the law machinery to investigate these crimes and punish the guilty persons as soon as possible.

We consider that violence against the journalists leads to self-censorship and affects on freedom of speech negatively. Freedom of speech is the most actual problem especially on the eve of the presidential election. In this regard, we call the power and the journalists themselves don’t remain indifferent to such facts. The assaults on the Kyrgyz journalists shouldn’t become the usual fact  in our society, Institute said in the press-release.