“There are cases of illegal interference in the work of law enforcement officers while performing their duties—filming and distributing content online with the intent to discredit, insult, or humiliate them in the eyes of society,” the draft document states.
The proposed amendments came a week after a video of a traffic officer violating the law went viral. The video showed the officer weighing small bananas at a supermarket, obtaining a receipt for them, and then replacing them with larger bananas. A store employee claimed the officer “repeatedly visits the store and commits this scam.”
Interior Minister Suyunbek Omurzakov defended the proposal, saying it is intended to protect public officials from abuse. “Sometimes health workers, teachers, and law enforcement officers are assaulted, and these incidents are spread on the Internet,” Omurzakov told the news outlet 24.kg.
He added that the penalties would only target individuals who refuse to comply with lawful orders from officials and later post edited materials online.
The bill has sparked widespread criticism on Kyrgyz social media.
“If state agencies or their employees break the law, citizens have the right to criticize them, record their violations, and demand accountability. What are they so afraid of? This initiative increasingly distances the authorities from the people,” said former MP Irina Karamushkina.
Current MP Dastan Bekeshev echoed the concerns. “Citizens won’t be able to film traffic violations or police misconduct without fear of being jailed. This law would take discretion away from the courts and put it in the hands of the police, which is the worst outcome for law-abiding citizens,” he said.
Bekeshev urged citizens to write to parliamentarians and the president to oppose the measure.
The bill must pass three more rounds of voting in parliament before it can be sent to the president for approval.