Court Upholds Ban on 24.kg Management Disclosing Case Materials
Bishkek City Court Hears Appeal of 24.kg News Agency Against Investigator’s Actions
On February 27, 2024, the Bishkek City Court considered the appeal of 24.kg news agency. The management of the news agency had filed a complaint against the actions of the investigator who prohibited the general director and chief editors from disclosing data about a criminal case initiated under the article “Propaganda of War.”
The decision to prohibit disclosure was first appealed in the Pervomaisky District Court, but the investigating judge rejected the appeal. Subsequently, the decision was taken to the City Court.
According to lawyer Nurbek Sydykov, the management of 24.kg news agency believes that there were no legal or reasonable grounds for them to sign a non-disclosure agreement. He stated, “The essence of the complaint is that at the time the agreement was signed, a motivated decision of the investigator and specification of the data that should not be disclosed was necessary.”
The lawyer further noted that the City Court has only announced the operative part of its decision so far, without revealing the specific basis for rejection.
In its complaint, 24.kg news agency requested the district court to recognize the decision of the senior investigator as illegal and unfounded, and to compel the authorities to rectify the violation.
The incident began on January 16, when employees of the State Committee for National Security conducted a search at the office of 24.kg news agency. The general director and editors-in-chief were taken for interrogation, and their equipment and personal phones were confiscated. The SCNS stated that the search was part of a criminal case under the article “Propaganda of War” of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. Subsequently, the managers were summoned for further questioning on January 17.
The outcome of the appeal at the City Court is still pending, as the news agency continues to challenge the restrictions placed on them by the investigator.
