Kyrgyzstan

Since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyzstan’s mass media outlets have enjoyed greater freedom than those of neighboring countries and have remained the most free in Central Asia. Although Kyrgyzstan may seem of concern only to those interested in wider Central Asia and former Soviet Union countries, it is important for anyone studying the role of mass media in a media-restricted environment and the implications for democratization process. This entry provides an overview of media in Kyrgyzstan, examines traditional and new media, and explores the relationship between freedom of the press and the Kyrgyz government.