Kyrgyz Newspaper Editors Summoned For Questioning

The chief editors of the Kyrgyz newspapers "Achyk Sayasat" (Open Politics) and "Nazar" (Attention) were questioned today by officials of the Prosecutor-General's Office about certain articles in their publications, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

"Achyk Sayasat" chief editor Babyrbek Jeenbekov told RFE/RL that no explanations were given as to why he and "Nazar" chief editor Kenjebek Arykbaev were summoned to the Prosecutor-General's Office.

He said they went to the office today and were questioned about articles about opposition activities that they had published in their newspapers.

Jeenbekov said the summons might be specifically connected to the newspapers’ publication of an address by his son, politician Ravshan Jeenbekov, to delegates of the National Assembly (Kurultai). Ravshan Jeenbekov is living in self-imposed exile in the United States.

The kurultai is scheduled to be held on March 17 by Kyrgyzstan's opposition parties and movements.