Kyrgyzstan: Newsmaker's change of position indicative of potential media landscape deterioration
In the heart of Kyrgyzstan, a buzz is stirring within the walls of 24.kg, one of the country's oldest and most revered news agencies. The whispers echo a shift in power, but the bosses insist it's all business.
However, rumors swirl just weeks after a dozen of their top editorial staff were grilled by the security services. A switcheroo in the top seat unfolded, with the Justice Ministry website confirming the departure of Asel Otorbayeva, the agency's founder, and her replacement with Almasbek Turdumamunov.
Turdumamunov's past, as mentioned in cloak-and-dagger accounts, includes a stint as press officer for ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, a figure controversially ousted in 2010 amidst bloody protests in the capital, Bishkek. His CV also boasts roles at the National Bank and the state telecommunications company.
These suspicions about a power play have been lingering since mid-January, when the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) stormed their offices for a chat about allegations that the outlet had been messing around with war propaganda. Otorbayeva, senior editors Anton Lymar and Makhinur Niyazova were amongst those nabbed, raising speculation about the weather vane shifting.
Niyazova, after five years on the Job, broke the silence this week, stating her intent to bid adieu. Although short on details, she expressed her refusal to "tolerate repeated lies," hinting at undercurrents beneath the surface. Her departure follows Otorbayeva's, who denied rumors of political takeover on Facebook. She maintained it was a health and family decision, unrelated to politics.
"No raid here, no change in editorial policy, no opposition or pro-government slant," she defended, debunking the gossip mill.
Otorbayeva relinquished control to Turdumamunov, a familiar face with a knack for dealing with the high-ups and experience in senior management. According to Otorbayeva, negotiations with Turdumamunov were ongoing until the hiccups from the raids and absurd accusations of war propaganda disrupted the talks.
Things took an unexpected turn when, for a brief moment, Gulzhan Sheripbayeva, chief editor of another outlet, NazarNews, was updated as the publisher, only to be replaced by Turdumamunov soon after. Sheripbayeva's history, including her alleged pro-Russia sympathies and a controversial past with the now out-of-favor corrupt ex-customs chief Rayimbek Matraimov, left many scratching their heads.
The whirlwind of ownership changes and speculations can lead one to wonder if the tenor of 24.kg's coverage will change. It's crucial to remember the precedent of such adjustments in the free-speech landscape of Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan, under Japarov's leadership, has stuck to a pro-Russian stance, skirting any explicit endorsement of the Ukraine invasion while discouraging activists from expressing dissent. 24.kg, born in 2006 by Otorbayeva, has been a thorn in the side of the Russian authorities, facing censorship attempts over the years.
In the Russian media watchdog's crosshairs, 24.kg, in September 2025, was forced to close shop due to its anti-Russian reporting on the Ukraine invasion. This move was likely triggered by articles critical of the Russian authorities. Articles discussing the alleged Moscow's imperial ambitions or delving into Russian propaganda tactics didn't bode well with the higher-ups.
Time will tell if the new leadership at 24.kg will sway their coverage, but one thing is clear—the media game in Kyrgyzstan is becoming increasingly more intricate. One may ponder if the 'beast' that is the global political climate is influencing the 'behemoth' that is the media landscape in Kyrgyzstan.
- Despite the leadership change at 24.kg, the new publisher, Almasbek Turdumamunov, has denied any intentions of altering the news agency's editorial policy.
- The shifts in power at 24.kg have raised concerns about the potential impact on the agency's coverage, given Turdumamunov's past associations with politicians and various institutions, such as his tenure as press officer for ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and roles at the National Bank and the state telecommunications company.
- The political climate in Kyrgyzstan, under the leadership of President Japarov, has been marked by a pro-Russian stance and discouragement of dissent, making the media landscape in the country increasingly complex, with organizations like 24.kg facing potential censorship and scrutiny, as demonstrated by the agency's forced closure in September 2025 due to its critical reporting on the Ukraine invasion.
