Several news sites blocked two days before legislative elections

Reporters Without Borders today condemned censorship of the Kyrgyz network yesterday, two days ahead of 16 December legislative elections pitting Ak Zhol, the party of President Kurkmanbek Bakiyev, against a social-democratic opposition led by former deputy Kubatbek Baibolov. Three popular websites came under a massive spam attack on 14 December. The website of the privately-owned news agency, Akipress (http://www.akipress.kg) and that of the news agency 24 (http://www.24.kg) were made inaccessible, as well as the internet forum Diesel (http://www.diesel.elcat.kg). All were apparently victims of a political manoeuvre designed to prevent publication of news about the forthcoming poll. The main Internet service providers, ElCat and SaimaTelecom, gave no explanation for the blocking, but did not deny anything either. In addition, the website of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) was blocked for more than one hour on 14 December. All that could be seen was the message: “This site has been attacked by the Dream of Estonian Organization XOPO Legio Denjos". Staff at the Commission called for an investigation into the reasons for the attack and who was behind it. Kyrgyz electoral law bans all party political advertising of any kind on the eve of elections. The opposition parties accused the government of carrying out a “campaign of intimidation” against the people and voiced fears that the election results will be rigged. “We deplore this violation of the citizens' freedom of information. It amounts to government manipulation, gagging the opposition earlier than laid down,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “This radical step is in opposition to any kind of democracy and we urge the authorities to unblock these news-sites”, it added.