Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov has criticized the country's media for its willingness to accept foreign funding. American diplomats disagree with the government’s “accusations,” while local journalists pointed out that Kyrgyz media operates with the help of advertising and grants. Speaking at the recent People's Kurultai (Congress) in Bishkek, Japarov criticized several Kyrgyz media outlets for receiving foreign funding, accusing journalists of spreading false information. According to him, most Kyrgyz publications have foreign sponsors. Japarov claimed that journalists obey their "masters" and are therefore deprived of freedom of speech. The president also shared data on foreign funding received by some opposition media outlets and NGOs. “These funds are accounted for in reports only superficially. Their foreign sponsors say, ‘Yes, they are doing a good job.’ But what’s really happening? Here, they spread false information, look for negativity, and undermine the reputation of others. And when lawsuits are filed against them, they immediately claim it’s an attack on freedom of speech,” Japarov said. The president addressed the leadership of the U.S. State Department, stating that funds should be directed directly to Kyrgyz authorities. “We will ensure their effective use. Do you want to raise the level of journalism? We can do it. Do you want complete freedom of speech? We guarantee it,” Japarov emphasized. A few days later, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek responded to the criticism. “In the field of journalism, our assistance is aimed at funding fact-checking programs, supporting Kyrgyz-language journalism, and assisting investigative journalists in uncovering violations, including corruption,” the diplomats said in a statement. The embassy emphasized its belief that independent media, which performs a watchdog role in society, is crucial for any government. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, journalist Chynara Sydykova shared that grant support enabled her to implement several socio-cultural projects. “These projects helped us grow and become independent professionals in directing, producing, and project management. Finally, it allowed us to simply become journalists capable of working honestly, objectively, and professionally, covering topics of public interest,” Sydykova said. The investigative journalist noted that none of the grant providers interfered with the work process. However, Sydykova admitted that manipulations could occasionally occur. “Journalists shouldn’t cling to every visible opportunity to get funding. They need to build a reputation so that no one would even think of using them as an agent of influence. Thanks to my television projects, I provided real help to respondents in the areas of health and social injustice,” Sydykova added. Public figure and journalist Alisher Tashmatov told The Times of Central Asia that he takes a neutral stance on grants. According to him, the most important thing is that grants allocated by foreign institutions should not threaten Kyrgyzstan’s national security. “In Kyrgyzstan, media survives through advertising and grants. Only a few receive funding from the state. Moreover, even state-owned media occasionally receives financial assistance from foreign institutions and companies,” he noted, adding that criticism of the authorities should be well-founded.
