OSCE Centre supports media legislation workshop for Kyrgyz prosecutors

BISHKEK, 29 October, 2009 - More than 30 representatives of the Prosecutor's Office from Bishkek and in Chuy and Talas provinces of Kyrgyzstan are attending a workshop on the implementation of media legislation that started today with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The workshop is being conducted by a non-governmental organization, the Media Commissioner Institute.

The goal of the workshop is to discuss the state of media in the country and to contribute to a clearer understanding of legislative mechanisms that regulate the work of journalists by all stakeholders, including the Prosecutor's Office as the state body responsible for monitoring the correct implementation of laws in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Lilian Darii, Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: "The OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports Kyrgyzstan in its compliance with its OSCE and other international commitments on both media freedom and self-regulation responsibilities. This seminar is particularly meaningful because the Prosecutor's Office monitors actual implementation of legislation in such fields as freedom of the media, journalists' safety and citizens' right to privacy."

"The workshop will contribute to a better understanding of sometimes complex media legislation through presentations and group discussion of national and international practices in peacefully resolving media-related conflict situations," said Akmat Alagushev, the Head of the Media Commissioner Institute.