Security agents search newsroom of media outlet 24.kg, take top editors in for questioning

Agents from Kyrgyzstan’s State National Security Committee (GKNB) searched the newsroom of the news site 24.kg in Bishkek on Monday, journalists from the outlet reported.

The journalists said the security officials refused to allow lawyers from the media rights group Media Policy Institute or the legal rights organization Adilet into the building during the search. The outlet’s computers and other data storage devices were reportedly confiscated.

24.kg general director Asel Otorbaeva, chief editor Anton Lymar, and managing editor Maksinur Niyazova were taken in for questioning.

The outlet said the GKNB has launched a criminal case against it for allegedly spreading “war propaganda.”