Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a country in transition, coping with the break up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and more recently the fall of a president who exercised tight controls over the media. Amid difficult economic conditions and a tense political environment, Kyrgyz journalists have made significant progress in opening up the media sector towards a more public oriented service. IMS supports their work by pushing for media law and policy reform, providing trainings to strengthen the knowldege and skills of the journalists, and to build their capacity to produce and disseminate professional content.Archive
- Kyrgyz media under renewed pressure
- Kyrgyz state media on road to Public Service
- At home among strangers, a stranger among his own
- The market in Osh existed for a thousand years – now it is closed
- Kyrgyz election:The fate of democracy is at stake
- Media in Kyrgyzstan: A window of opportunity
- Media under pressure in run-up to Kyrgyz elections
- Collection to support Kyrgyz media ends
- Successful International Media Law Summer School in Kyiv
- The heroes of Osh
- Danish journalists in bid to support Kyrgyz colleagues
- Emergency assistance to journalists in Kyrgyzstan
- Witnessing the riots in Kyrgyz city of Osh
- Media under pressure in Kyrgyzstan
- Joint statement in support of media in the Kyrgyz Republic
- Uncertainty coupled with careful optimism in Kyrgyzstan
- Media freedom under attack in Kyrgyzstan
- Worsening conditions for journalists in Kyrgyzstan
- Political extremism and terrorism, and media in Central Asia, with examples of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, 2008 in English
- Political extremism and terrorism, and media in Central Asia, with examples of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, 2008 in Russian
- Research project: Political extremism and terrorism, and media in Central Asia; a case study of Kyrgyzstan, 2008 in English
- Research project: Political extremism and terrorism, and media in Central Asia; a case study of Kyrgyzstan, 2008 in Russian
Danish journalists in bid to support Kyrgyz colleagues
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IMS is coordinating the collection of laptops and other media equipment from Danish journalists wishing to support media colleagues in Southeast Kyrgyzstan
More than 2000 have been killed and 400.000 have fled their homes since riots broke out on 11 June in Southeast Kyrgyzstan.
In close coordination with the Kyrgyz Public Association of Journalists (PAJ) IMS has distributed emergency aid consisting of food and medicine to journalists and their families in need of help in and around the city of Osh.
Local media prevented from reporting
Many of the journalists who live and work in Osh and Jalal-Abad have lost their homes, belongings and media equipment. According to PAJ, the only independent association working to support the interests of journalists in Kyrgyzstan, many journalists in Osh and Jalal-Abad are unable to report on events from the streets out of fear of attacks. Moreover, during the violence, the buildings of Osh TV and JTR TV in Osh and Jalal-Abad were also burnt down leading to a reliance of local media on official sources.
The result is limited local coverage of the violence and little available video footage or photos documenting events. This is problematic, especially for the populations of the areas most affected by the violence where updated information on the fighting and where to seek help can be life-saving.
Identifying needs of media
The grave situation led Simon Kruse, Moscow correspondent for the Danish daily Berlingske Tidende to suggest a collection of media equipment from Danish journalists to their Kyrgyz colleagues which IMS has now taken on the task of coordinating. (Read the call in Danish)
The equipment offered will be screened by IMS before leaving the country to ensure that it works and meets the needs of the Kyrgyz journalists. At the moment, PAJ is carrying out a needs assessment in Osh and Jalal-Abad which will be used by IMS to match journalists with the right equipment.
If you are a Danish journalist or media house wishing to donate media equipment in good condition, please contact Lotte Dahlmann, IMS, on tel. (45) 88327005, mobile: 2554-3541 or email: ld[snabela]i-m-s.dk.
Due to limited capacity, IMS is unfortunately unable to include equipment donated from journalists and media-houses based outside of Denmark.
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