**Interview text:**
- Hello, Sadyr Nurgoyoevich! On January 28, five years have passed since your official inauguration as president. How do you assess the changes in Kyrgyzstan during this time? Your work and the achievements of your team are actively discussed in both local and international media, including neighboring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Many note that you have managed to resolve a number of long-standing issues and initiate large-scale international projects, which has significantly improved relations with foreign partners.
However, some media outlets, while acknowledging the aforementioned successes, also point out existing shortcomings. In particular, there are opinions that the situation with freedom of speech and human rights in Kyrgyzstan has worsened. How do you comment on these accusations of a rollback from democratic principles?
- Hello. There is freedom of speech and democracy in Kyrgyzstan. If we compare it to the past, the current level of freedom of speech is not lower. Citizens can freely express their opinions both on social media and in the media, discussing social, political, and personal issues.
People openly express their thoughts, record videos, and share them. No one restricts them. Of course, one can argue that law enforcement agencies detain some citizens, but it is important to remember that freedom of speech and democracy imply responsibility.
People are not detained for criticism; those are detained who, under the pretext of freedom of speech, try to destabilize the situation in the country or call for violations of constitutional order. Should we just sit back and ignore such actions?
Arrests are made only based on court decisions and during special operations, with audiovisual evidence being collected. For example, last autumn, a discussion about planning mass riots between a representative of one of the parties and a foreigner came into public focus. At the same time, funding and support were requested openly. When the law is violated, such individuals may call themselves journalists or bloggers. If they want to engage in journalism, they should do so, but without breaking the law.
We call for adherence to the laws and not to use the concept of "freedom of speech" to justify illegal actions. Some, citing freedom of speech, incite interregional conflicts. When their words divide the people along territorial lines, should we just watch what is happening?
Those who wish to organize protests should go to Gorky Park, invite journalists, and express their demands there. The key is not to interfere with the work of state institutions. This is practiced in many countries.
However, it is worth noting that often developed countries in Europe and America are cited as examples. But what is really happening there? The U.S. immigration police shot two people for disobedience. The actions of former President Trump against the BBC resulted in a $5 billion lawsuit.
In Europe, demonstrators are often dispersed by force, activists are arrested, and others are kept under surveillance. This is reported by both the media and international research organizations. It cannot be said that this is bad. In my opinion, in the modern world, issues of security and state integrity come to the forefront.
I am convinced that this serves the interests of society as a whole, including those citizens who sometimes, succumbing to emotions, claim that there is a lack of freedom of speech and democracy.
Thus, as I have already said, there are no restrictions on freedom of speech or human rights in Kyrgyzstan. Claims by certain websites that there is no freedom of speech in the country are unfounded.
