Court Orders Closure of Kloop Media in Oktyabrsky District
The Oktyabrsky District Court has made the decision to shut down Kloop Media Public Foundation, a prominent media outlet in Kyrgyzstan. The ruling, which was reported on the outlet’s Telegram channel, has sparked controversy and criticism.
Kloop Media Public Foundation has announced that it will appeal the decision in the Bishkek City Court. The foundation’s legal troubles began on August 28 when Bishkek prosecutor Emilbek Abdymanapov filed a lawsuit seeking to liquidate the organization.
The lawsuit accuses Kloop Media of publishing content that is “of a negative nature, aimed at discrediting representatives of state and municipal bodies.” It also alleges that the outlet’s publications contain “hidden manipulations of the opinion of the society, which are imposed negative processes that do not correspond to reality, and create opposition to any undertakings of the current government.”
The prosecutor’s office has pointed to several headlines and materials from Kloop.kg that it claims are sharply critical of the government. Additionally, the foundation has been accused of concealing a large amount of funds.
The decision to shut down Kloop Media Public Foundation has raised concerns about freedom of the press and government censorship in Kyrgyzstan. Supporters of the outlet argue that it has played a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in the country. The outcome of the appeal in the Bishkek City Court will be closely watched as it has the potential to set a precedent for media freedom in the Kyrgyz Republic.
