Expert: Draft Mass Media Law Receives Negative Feedback from All Departments.
Kyrgyzstan’s proposed new draft law on mass media has been met with negative opinions from all government departments, according to Semetei Amanbekov, a member of the working group responsible for its preparation. Speaking at a roundtable event dedicated to World Press Freedom Day and the protection of civil rights and freedoms in Kyrgyzstan, Amanbekov stated that the Ministry of Justice had explicitly stated that the document could not be adopted in its current form. The presidential administration’s version of the law has been criticised by lawyers, experts and journalists, who say it contradicts both the Constitution and international treaties to which Kyrgyzstan is party. Amanbekov has recommended that his colleagues, who are also preparing a draft law on non-profit organisations, request opinions from relevant agencies and ensure that both versions are sent for review by the OSCE and experts of the Venice Commission.
