OSCE media freedom representative welcomes decriminalization of libel by Kyrgyzstan
VIENNA, 19 July 2011 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, today commended Kyrgyzstan for being the first Central Asian state to decriminalize libel.
“Repeal of the criminal libel provisions will strengthen the country’s media freedom,” said Mijatović. “I welcome the personal engagement and commitment of President Otunbaeva on media freedom.”
President Roza Otunbaeva signed the amendments to the Criminal Code on 11 July 2011, after they were adopted by Parliament on 16 June. The amendments bring the Code in line with the guarantees of the new Constitution. The 2010 Constitution of Kyrgyzstan prohibits criminal liability for disseminating information discrediting the honour and dignity of an individual.
“I hope that the remaining speech crimes of ‘insult’ and ‘insult of an official’ as provided for in Articles 128 and 342 will not be used to restrict critical speech. The authorities should work further to repeal these provisions,” Mijatović said.
“I am glad that Kyrgyzstan is now among the 13 OSCE participating States that do not criminalize libel. I hope that this positive step will serve as an example for the rest of the OSCE region to follow.”