Washington, D.C. - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul issued the following statement on the Kyrgyz government’s decision to halt operations of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s local outlet, Radio Azattyk.
“I condemn the Kyrgyz government’s egregious assault on free and independent media through their attempts to terminate Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Radio Azattyk service. Radio Azattyk delivers unbiased and independent media to Kyrgyz citizens, who are guaranteed the right to a free press by the Kyrgyz constitution. Censorship of independent media is indefensible and unconstitutional, and I call on Kyrgyz authorities to immediately withdraw their order to shut down Radio Azattyk and remove all restrictions on RFE/RL’s ability to operate."