A court in Bishkek's Octeabrsky district has granted the prosecutor’s request to label the media projects Temirov Live, Kloop.kg, and Ayt Ayt Dese as extremist, as reported by Kaktus.media.
The court's ruling prohibits the activities of these media outlets and their associated online platforms, which are managed by journalists Bolot Temirov and Rinat Tukhvatshin. The decision not only bans the publication of new content but also blocks access to existing materials available on their websites and platforms.
Temirov Live and Ayt Ayt Dese are associated with journalist Bolot Temirov, while Kloop.kg is a project founded by Rinat Tukhvatshin under the Kloop Media foundation. All three media outlets have been known for their independent coverage of events in Kyrgyzstan, offering alternative viewpoints and reporting on significant national issues.
The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Digital Development and Innovative Technologies' Regulatory and Supervisory Service has been designated as the responsible authority to enforce the decision, including blocking the internet resources of the three outlets.
Pressures on independent journalism in Kyrgyzstan
In November 2023, investigative journalist Bolot Temirov was deported from Kyrgyzstan and banned from reentering the country for five years. Rinat Tukhvatshin is also currently living abroad, according to Fergana.
In late 2023, Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that content on the Ayt Ayt Dese and Temirov Live platforms had been found to contain calls for participation in mass riots. As a result, criminal proceedings were instituted, leading to the detention of 11 journalists who were accused of inciting protests and unrest.
In October 2024, Mahabat Tajibek kyzy, the director of Temirov Live and Ayt Ayt Dese, was sentenced to six years in prison. Poet and activist Azamat Ishenbekov received a five-year sentence, while two other journalists were given three years of probation. The remaining accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Kloop.kg has faced mounting pressure from authorities for several years. In the fall of 2023, the website was blocked, and in February 2024, the court dissolved the legal entity behind the project, the Kloop Media public foundation.
In September 2025, four former employees of Kloop.kg — two cameramen and two accountants — were convicted for "provoking discontent and organizing mass unrest."
Impact on Media Landscape
These actions represent an ongoing crackdown on independent media in Kyrgyzstan, raising concerns about freedom of speech and the space for alternative viewpoints in the country. The international community continues to watch closely as the government intensifies its control over media outlets and journalists.
