April TV channel suspension and its property freezing unjustified measure, media community says

AKIPRESS.COM - The media community of Kyrgyzstan expressed concerns over suspension of work of the April TV channel and its property freezing. "September TV channel was closed in 2017. On August 9, 2019, the court ruled to seal off the Media Forum building - the work of the April TV channel was suspended. Other media organizations having offices in the same building have difficulties with work. We like no other country know that the county will not have freedom of expression without media. We absolutely disagree against such step of the authorities," media organizations said in their appeal to President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
It is important to have different mass media with different positions on the situation in the country to create a broad range of opinions for the people to make decision on important things, they said.
There is no need to freeze property of the TV channel, since the defendant is held in custody.
"The TV channel is not accused of violation of the laws of Kyrgyzstan. During the political crisis, April channel was one of few channels promptly covering the events in the region. We find freezing of property and suspension of the April channel unjustified and excessive," the media organizations said and demanded resumption of airing of the channel.