Media Freedom - The Times Of Central Asia

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Traditional Storytellers in Kyrgyzstan Face Scrutiny From Authorities

Asylbek Maratov is a performer of folk-style poetry in Kyrgyzstan, a form of cultural expression that dates from the time when nomads roamed Central Asia and involves music and improvisation, often delivered at ceremonies and other special events as well as on social media Lately, Maratov and some other akyns, as these oral storytellers are known, have faced pressure in a country where the government is tightening up on expression as a way to ensure what it calls ‘national stability’. The tension points to sensitivities about how freely they can sing or talk about issues that they think are relevant to society as part of a tradition that is steeped in epic tales of the past and has been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Maratov said he got a warning from the State Committee for National Security for performing songs on political topics at a concert, the Kloop news organization reported this week. It said the performer commented about a caution from the state authorities on Facebook on Wednesday, though a link to the social media post says the content is unavailable. "I received a warning, now may God help me. I don't wish prison on anyone, let the people have joy," Maratov said in the post, according to Kloop. Maratov has previously performed his craft at the World Nomad Games, an event that celebrates culture and sports in Central Asia and is held every two years. He has commented on corruption, a sensitive topic for a government that has promised to curb graft but faces questions about transparency and accountability. Late last year, President Sadyr Japarov signed a new law that toughens punishments and restrictions, for example, barring people convicted of corruption from holding state and municipal jobs. The president has said that his family members won’t get mixed up in state affairs, but reports such as the one last year that his son planned to build the biggest golf course in Central Asia raised some concerns about business ethics. Akyns draw from a tradition that goes back centuries, evoking history, philosophy, and spirituality in their commentaries and sometimes engaging in competitions similar to rap battles. They play instruments such as the Kazakh dombra or Kyrgyz komuz. There is a school for akyns in Kyrgyzstan. They are able to reach a much wider audience than in the past because of YouTube and other social media platforms, and a few in Kyrgyzstan have directed sharp criticism at their country’s leadership. This month, Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s sentence of three years in prison for Askat Zhetigen, an akyn who was found guilty of calling for the violent seizure of power, the 24.kg news service reported. Zhetigen had used harsh language while criticizing the authorities on social media. Kloop, the investigative news outlet that reported on the warning against Maratov, was closed under a court order in Kyrgyzstan last year in what media advocates said was a targeting of journalists and a shrinking of free speech in...

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International Human Rights Activists Demand Release of Tajik Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has strongly condemned the sentencing of Tajik journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, calling on Tajik authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally. In a statement issued on March 3, the Observatory asserted that Khakimova’s prosecution is linked to her participation in a politically sensitive poll on China’s influence in Tajikistan. The survey, commissioned by the Kyrgyz NGO Barometer, included interviews with political figures, some of whom belong to the opposition and face pressure from authorities. “Ms. Khakimova is officially charged with ‘high treason’ under Article 305 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code. This charge is part of a broader investigation into an alleged coup attempt, despite the absence of credible evidence. It is being used to suppress critical voices,” the statement said. Concerns Over Due Process and Human Rights Violations Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the secrecy of the trial, closed court sessions, and lack of transparency in the investigation. Activists argue that these factors indicate serious violations of due process. A particularly troubling aspect of the case is Khakimova’s separation from her two young children, who are two years old and nine months old. At the time of her arrest, she was still breastfeeding her younger child. Authorities have denied her mother’s request to bring the infant to the detention center, and her property has been confiscated, exacerbating her family’s financial difficulties. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has urged the Tajik government to: Release Khakimova immediately. Respect her rights as a mother and consider the wellbeing of her children. Ensure a fair and transparent judicial process. International Condemnation Several other human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have also condemned the eight-year prison sentence handed to Khakimova. The 31-year-old journalist was convicted of “complicity in high treason using her official position”, a charge that has sparked public outrage and widespread debate on social media. On February 13, the Chairman of Tajikistan’s Supreme Court acknowledged public criticism of the verdict but defended the decision, stating that Tajik law does not provide for leniency in cases involving “especially grave crimes”. Khakimova’s case has become a symbol of shrinking press freedoms in Tajikistan. With global human rights organizations increasing pressure, the Tajik government now faces growing calls to reconsider her sentence and uphold freedom of the press and due process.

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Elon Musk Calls for Closure of RFE/RL and VOA: What Would It Mean for Central Asia?

Following recent discussions on the potential closure of USAID, which has already caused concern among journalists and public activists receiving its grants, Elon Musk has weighed in on more U.S.-funded institutions. The billionaire has called for the shutting down of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA) - media organizations funded by the U.S. government. Musk criticized the outlets, labeling their employees as “radical leftist lunatics who talk to themselves while burning through $1 billion a year of American taxpayer money.” However, in Central Asia, RFE/RL's affiliates differ significantly from their European counterparts. They are far from being “radical leftists” and, in general, do not adhere to any particular ideology. Nonetheless, these branches have faced their own controversies and increasing government restrictions. [caption id="attachment_28526" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The headquarters of Voice of America, Washington, D.C.; image: Stierch[/caption] Allegations of Bias and Internal Controversy Concerns about RFE/RL’s editorial independence in Central Asia are not new. In 2019, former Radio Azattyk (RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service) editor Asem Tokayeva publicly criticized the network’s leadership under Abbas Javadi, an Iranian journalist who headed the Central Asian division. Tokayeva accused Javadi and Azattyk editor Torokul Doorov of turning the outlet into a propaganda tool for then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In response, Tokayeva published a series of allegations on Facebook in early 2019, and by April of that year, Javadi was dismissed. Around the same time, Radio Ozodi (RFE/RL’s Tajik service) director Sojida Jakhfarova was also removed from her position following public pressure from the Tajik opposition. Critics accused her of aligning the outlet’s editorial policies too closely with the government of President Emomali Rahmon. Shortly after, the editor-in-chief of the entire RFE/RL media corporation, Nenad Pejic, was also dismissed. Growing Government Restrictions Beyond internal scandals, RFE/RL’s affiliates in Central Asia have faced increasing government-imposed limitations: Tajikistan: Radio Ozodi has been periodically blocked in the country and has been inaccessible since 2021. Uzbekistan: Radio Ozodlik has faced long-standing access difficulties. Kyrgyzstan: In 2022, the Ministry of Culture officially blocked the Radio Azattyk website, citing content that was allegedly against state interests. Kazakhstan: In early 2024, 36 Azattyk journalists were denied accreditation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to alleged national security concerns. RFE/RL leadership had to intervene to resolve the issue. RFE/RL’s Restructuring in Central Asia In 2023, RFE/RL announced plans to restructure its Russian-language editorial operations in Kazakhstan. The media corporation confirmed that instead of maintaining separate Russian and national-language services in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, it would consolidate its efforts into a single Central Asian bureau. “RFE/RL is fully committed to providing independent and impartial news to audiences across Central Asia in national languages and Russian,” said Karin Marie, Director of External Communications at RFE/RL. “We are working to strengthen our ability to cover the most important news in Russian, maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of our internal structures and processes. We will pool our resources and talents to create a new regional unit covering all of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan....

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Sentencing of Journalist Rukhshona Khakimova Draws Outrage in Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s Supreme Court has convicted journalist Rukhshona Khakimova of high treason and sentenced her to eight years in prison. Her lawyer criticized the ruling, noting that the court failed to take into account her status as a mother. Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s journalistic community has condemned the sentence as "excessively harsh" and "shocking." Khakimova’s relatives plan to appeal the verdict. The court’s decision was announced on February 5 during a closed hearing held at the Dushanbe detention center, alongside other verdicts in the “coup d’état case." Khakimova is the niece of Shokirjon Khakimov, the first deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Khakimova was first charged seven months ago but was allowed to remain free due to her responsibilities as a mother of two young children. However, her documents were confiscated, preventing her from leaving her place of residence. Following the verdict, she was immediately taken into custody inside the courtroom. Tajikistan’s journalistic community has raised serious concerns about the fairness of the trial, particularly due to the lack of transparency surrounding the case. The authorities have refused to comment, citing state secrecy. Khakimova’s prosecution is believed to be linked to her investigation into China’s influence in Tajikistan. As part of her research, she reportedly interviewed several defendants in the coup case, including former MP Saidjafar Usmonzoda, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison. The prosecution had initially sought a 17-year prison sentence for Khakimova, but the court reduced it to eight years under Article 63 of the Criminal Code. However, lawyer Turob Dilayev noted that the court failed to consider the legal provision allowing for sentence postponement for women with young children. As a result, Khakimova’s two children — a two-year-old and a nine-month-old — have been placed in the care of relatives. The court also seized the family's savings, originally intended for buying a home. The National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan has strongly criticized the ruling. Its head, Nuriddin Karshiboyev, stated that journalists had hoped for justice but were left “shocked” by the harsh sentence. Khurshed Atovullo, director of the Centre for Journalist Studies of Tajikistan, called the ruling excessive, arguing that conducting a survey should not be grounds for criminal prosecution. Gulnora Amirshoeva, head of the Coalition of Women Journalists of Tajikistan, expressed outrage, particularly over Khakimova’s separation from her children. She voiced hope that the case would be reviewed and that the execution of the sentence would be suspended. International human rights organizations have also condemned the verdict. Siynat Sultonalieva, Human Rights Watch’s representative for Central Asia, stated that Tajikistan continues to persecute journalists and human rights defenders. She noted that Khakimova is the ninth journalist to receive a long-term sentence and called on authorities to end the pressure on the press.

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Turkmen Civil Servants Could Lose Jobs for Misusing Newspapers with Pictures of Berdimuhamedovs

Authorities in Turkmenistan have warned civil servants that they could face dismissal for misusing state newspapers featuring images of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and his father, former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Officials have been explicitly banned from using these newspapers as toilet paper, food packaging, or firewood. Government employees are now required to sign pledges to “carefully keep the pages” containing photographs of the ruling family. According to civil servants, they have been instructed to ensure that images of the Berdimuhamedovs do not end up in the trash or repurposed for household use. Authorities are reportedly even considering introducing QR codes on each page of newspapers to track subscribers and monitor how printed materials are used. “Now we are afraid that children might accidentally tear or throw away a newspaper with the president’s image - because you can lose your job for that,” said one civil servant, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals. Human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), consistently rank Turkmenistan among the world’s worst countries for press freedom. Since Serdar Berdimuhamedov succeeded his father as president in 2022, the country’s media environment has remained tightly controlled. Despite officially stepping down, Berdimuhamedov Sr. continues to wield significant influence over decision-making in the government.

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Activists in Almaty and Kostanai Fined for Protests Supporting Temirlan Yensebek

Courts in Almaty and Kostanai have fined activists who held solitary protests supporting detained satirist Temirlan Yensebek. Each activist was ordered to pay 196,600 KZT (approximately $371). In Almaty, journalist Akmaral Dzhakibayeva was detained by police after staging a protest in front of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. She held a placard reading "Satire is not a crime" for 25 minutes before being taken away by officers. Dzhakibayeva’s protest was not only in support of Yensebek but also dedicated to journalists previously arrested for similar demonstrations. On the same day in Kostanai, activist Sergey Zinchenko was detained after holding a protest in front of the Kazakh Drama Theater. Like Dzhakibayeva, he displayed a poster with the same message: "Satire is not a crime." Temirlan Yensebek, the creator of the satirical platform Qaznews24, was arrested on January 17. The following day, a court ordered him to be held in custody for two months as part of an investigation into charges of “inciting interethnic discord.” This charge carries penalties ranging from fines and restricted freedom to imprisonment of two to seven years. Previously, journalists Asem Zhapisheva and Ruslan Biketov were also arrested in Almaty for 15 days after participating in solitary protests supporting Yensebek. Yensebek’s detention has sparked widespread public criticism. Members of the journalistic community and broader society have condemned the actions against him, calling for greater protections for freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest.