Kyrgyz Lawmakers Back 'Reformed' Public TV Channel

Former parliamentary speaker Tekebaev (in file photo) is pushing the new station (RFE/RL)

June 8, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyz lawmakers today approved an opposition-backed draft bill that would turn the state-controlled national television channel into a public broadcaster, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

The draft had been tabled by lawmaker Kanybek Imanaliev and former parliamentary speaker Omurbek Tekebaev, now a leader of the For Reforms! opposition movement.

Addressing reporters after the vote, Imanaliev explained why he believes the bill to change the oversight of the station, MTRK, is important.

"MTRK currently operates under normative acts issued by the president, or orders issued by the prime minister. There is no legal basis for that," Imanaliev said. "Secondly, MTRK should be expanded and reformed. It has to achieve some international standards. Also, we need to strengthen society's influence on MTRK. That's why we need this law."

The resulting public station would have a supervisory board comprised of one-third presidential appointees and another third parliamentary appointees. The remaining third would be representatives of civil society.

The bill must still be approved by President Kurmanbek Bakiev to come into force.

(with material from AKIpress, Kabar, 24.kg)