OSCE media freedom representative calls on new Parliament in Kyrgyzstan to decriminalize defamation, continue media reform
VIENNA, 10 November 2010 - On the occasion of the constitutive session of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic called on the newly elected Parliamentarians to decriminalize defamation and to continue media reform.
"I hope that reforming media legislation will be a high priority for the new Parliament of Kyrgyzstan. Decriminalization of defamation, as stipulated in the new Constitution, is an essential first step in this direction."
The Constitution, adopted on 27 June 2010, paves the way to decriminalization as it states that "no one shall be prosecuted by criminal law for disseminating information that is defamatory or denigrating to one's honour and dignity."
"I hope that the Members of Parliament will adapt the Criminal Code articles on defamation and insult, to bring them in line with the Constitution. This will be great achievement for media freedom as it will ensure that journalists are not imprisoned for their work. With this amendment in place, Kyrgyzstan would be the first country in Central Asia and the 12th in the OSCE family to ban criminal persecution for defamation," said Mijatovic.
"I offer my office's full support and expertise in this, and further reforms of the media legislation in the country, to bring them in line with the OSCE media freedom commitments".