CPJ Condemns Supreme Court’s Decision on Liquidation of Kloop Media
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has strongly denounced the Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the liquidation of Kloop Media, a nonprofit organization that operates the investigative news website Kloop.
Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, expressed deep concern about the closure of Kloop, which has received international awards for its investigative reporting. Said stated, “The forced closure of Kloop is a shameful act in the history of modern Kyrgyzstan, a country that was once seen as a bastion of press freedom in Central Asia. This action indicates a troubling shift away from that reputation. Kyrgyz authorities must reverse this restrictive stance on media and allow Kloop and other independent outlets to operate freely.”
The Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan upheld the decision to liquidate Kloop Media public foundation, following a lawsuit filed by Bishkek prosecutor Emilbek Abdymanapov in August 2023. The prosecutor alleged that Kloop’s publications were predominantly negative and aimed at discrediting government officials. Additionally, the prosecutor accused Kloop of manipulating public opinion to create opposition to the government’s initiatives.
The prosecutor’s office also claimed that Kloop Media public foundation had hidden a significant amount of funds. In April 2024, the Oktyabrsky District Court ruled in favor of liquidating Kloop Media.
The decision has sparked concerns about the state of press freedom in Kyrgyzstan and the treatment of independent media outlets. Many fear that the closure of Kloop will have a chilling effect on investigative journalism and freedom of expression in the country.
