RFE/RL President: Freezing of Azattyk bank account contradicts Jeenbekov's firm pledge to support independent journalism

AKIPRESS.COM - RFE/RL President Jamie Fly commented on the situation around Azattyk bank account freezing. "We have not seen the Matraimov complaint, nor have we seen any official documents explaining the court's decision to block our account," he said.
"This is an outrageous assault on Azattyk's operations and independence, and a threat to Azattyk reporters and staff," Jamie Fly said.
"It also contradicts President [Sooronbai] Jeenbekov's firm pledge, made to me personally in August, to support independent journalism and combat corruption in Kyrgyzstan," he said.
The Matraimovs filed a defamation lawsuit against Azattyk Radio, journalist Ali Toktakunov, Kloop, 24.kg on December 9. The next day the Sverdlovskiy District Court ruled to freeze the bank accounts of the media organizations within the size of the sought compensation of 60 million soms for the damages, including 22.5 million soms from Azatyyk, 10 million soms from Ali Toktakunov, 15 million soms from 24.kg, 12.5 million soms from 24.kg.