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Freedom on the Net 2025

Kyrgyzstan

Partly Free
47
100
A Obstacles to Access 15 25
B Limits on Content 17 35
C Violations of User Rights 15 40
Last Year's Score & Status
48 100 Partly Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free). See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Kyrgyzstan_hero

header1 Key Developments, June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025

Internet freedom in Kyrgyzstan continued to decline during the coverage period, which was marked by detentions of journalists, activists, and individuals critical of the government, and a broader crackdown on online media outlets.

  • In March 2025, President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree renaming the Ministry of Digital Development the Ministry of Digital Development and Innovative Technologies, and expanding its mandate to cover a range of digital services, including satellite technologies (A5).1
  • In April 2025, the Kyrgyz government filed a lawsuit against independent broadcaster Aprel TV, arguing that the court should order the revocation of the outlet’s broadcast license and suspension of its social media operations because the outlet “undermines the authority of the government.”2 In July 2025, after the coverage period, a court ordered the outlet to close and suspend its social media operations (B6).3
  • In February 2025, the Code of Offenses was amended to criminalize online libel and insult, stipulating fines of 65,000 som ($750) for organizations and 20,000 som ($230) for individuals.4 Another set of amendments introducing similar penalties for the “spread of false and unreliable information” online took effect in July 2025, after the coverage period (C2).5
  • In October 2024, a Bishkek court sentenced journalists Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy and Azamat Ishenbekov to six and five years in prison, respectively.6 They were reportedly accused of inciting violence in connection with a video posted on social media accusing authorities of corruption.7 Tazhibek Kyzy, who is the wife of exiled journalist Bolot Temirov, has reportedly faced death threats from another prisoner while in detention.8 In April 2025, Ishenbekov was pardoned (C3 and C7).9

header2 Political Overview

After two revolutions that ousted authoritarian presidents in 2005 and 2010, Kyrgyzstan adopted a parliamentary form of government. Governing coalitions proved unstable, however, and corruption remained pervasive. Unrest surrounding the annulled 2020 parliamentary elections led to significant political upheaval and the violent repression of opponents of nationalist politician Sadyr Japarov, who became president through a rapid series of appointments and resignations under pressure. Constitutional changes adopted in 2021 concentrated political power in the presidency and reduced the size and role of the parliament. Both the judiciary and extralegal violence have since been used to sideline President Japarov’s political opponents and civil society critics.

This report has been abridged for Freedom on the Net 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.

For additional background information, see last year’s full report.

A Obstacles to Access

A1 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Do infrastructural limitations restrict access to the internet or the speed and quality of internet connections? 5.005 6.006
A2 1.00-3.00 pts0-3 pts
Is access to the internet prohibitively expensive or beyond the reach of certain segments of the population for geographical, social, or other reasons? 2.002 3.003
A3 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does the government exercise technical or legal control over internet infrastructure for the purposes of restricting connectivity? 4.004 6.006
A4 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Are there legal, regulatory, or economic obstacles that restrict the diversity of service providers? 3.003 6.006
A5 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do national regulatory bodies that oversee service providers and digital technology fail to operate in a free, fair, and independent manner? 1.001 4.004

B Limits on Content

B1 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does the state block or filter, or compel service providers to block or filter, internet content, particularly material that is protected by international human rights standards? 3.003 6.006
B2 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do state or nonstate actors employ legal, administrative, or other means to force publishers, content hosts, or digital platforms to delete content, particularly material that is protected by international human rights standards? 2.002 4.004
B3 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do restrictions on the internet and digital content lack transparency, proportionality to the stated aims, or an independent appeals process? 1.001 4.004
B4 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Do online journalists, commentators, and ordinary users practice self-censorship? 2.002 4.004
B5 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Are online sources of information controlled or manipulated by the government or other powerful actors to advance a particular political interest? 2.002 4.004
B6 1.00-3.00 pts0-3 pts
Are there economic or regulatory constraints that negatively affect users’ ability to publish content online? 1.001 3.003
B7 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Does the online information landscape lack diversity and reliability? 2.002 4.004

Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 because the closure of media outlets, blocking of websites, and arrest of prominent journalists has led to less diversity of online material.

B8 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Do conditions impede users’ ability to mobilize, form communities, and campaign, particularly on political and social issues? 4.004 6.006

C Violations of User Rights

C1 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Do the constitution or other laws fail to protect rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, and press freedom, including on the internet, and are they enforced by a judiciary that lacks independence? 2.002 6.006
C2 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Are there laws that assign criminal penalties or civil liability for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards? 2.002 4.004
C3 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Are individuals penalized for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards? 2.002 6.006
C4 1.00-4.00 pts0-4 pts
Does the government place restrictions on anonymous communication or encryption? 2.002 4.004
C5 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does state surveillance of internet activities infringe on users’ right to privacy? 2.002 6.006
C6 1.00-6.00 pts0-6 pts
Does monitoring and collection of user data by service providers and other technology companies infringe on users’ right to privacy? 2.002 6.006
C7 1.00-5.00 pts0-5 pts
Are individuals subject to extralegal intimidation or physical violence by state authorities or any other actor in relation to their online activities? 2.002 5.005
C8 1.00-3.00 pts0-3 pts
Are websites, governmental and private entities, service providers, or individual users subject to widespread hacking and other forms of cyberattack? 1.001 3.003

On Kyrgyzstan

See all data, scores & information on this country or territory.

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Country Facts

  • Population

    6,975,000

  • Global Freedom Score

    26 100 not free

  • Internet Freedom Score

    47 100 partly free

  • Freedom in the World Status

    Not Free

  • Networks Restricted

    No

  • Websites Blocked

    Yes

  • Pro-government Commentators

    Yes

  • Users Arrested

    Yes