ELECTIONS 2005

Monitoring of the election campaign coverage
in the media of the Kyrgyz Republic
(Parliamentary elections)

The monitoring is conducted by Internews in Kyrgyzstan and a Swiss-based non-profit organization CIMERA in Kyrgyzstan with the support of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The monitoring period is 6 weeks (between 31 January and 14 March 2005).
The monitoring covers 150 print and 34 broadcast media in Bishkek and seven provinces. These include all government, private and government agency media that currently operate throughout the Kyrgyz Republic.
The monitoring methodology is based on an analysis of quantitative and qualitative indicators of the content of the printed media that are published during the indicated period and the broadcasts of television channels and radio stations during this period.
Broadcast media: eight hours of prime-time are tracked daily from 17.00 until 01.00 o'clock on television and from 07.00 until 15.00 o'clock on the radio.
Print media: all issues of daily, weekly and monthly newspapers that are published during the indicated period are read.
The objective of the monitoring is to record the process of the media operations during the election period, to establish the parameters of distribution of newspaper space and airtime among the candidates for deputy, and to determine the participation of government, public and political structures during the electioneering period.
The quantitative indicators are defined by seconds for the broadcast media and lines for the print media.
The qualitative indicators are determined by the tone of statements in broadcasts and publications-positive, neutral, and negative.
The margin of error in the statistical estimates is 5 seconds for the broadcast media and 10 lines for the print media.



WEEKLY REPORT (31 January - 6 February 2005)
REGIONS
OSH PROVINCE
BROADCAST MEDIA
ISH-3000 (government television and radio)
News items on the candidates on television and radio included the following.
News items featuring the subjects involved in the elections were distributed as follows: information from political parties and movements - 6810 sec. (27.5 %), information about the meetings of the KR Prime Minister N. Tanaev with OSCE ambassadors - 6078 sec. (24.6 %), CEC information - 4998 sec. (20.2 %), information from the voters - 4157 sec. (16.8 %), statements of the KR President A. Akaev - 2640 sec. (10.6 %). Total: 24,683 seconds of airtime.
Tone of statements. A negative tone concerning the opposition was sounded in the in the statements of the KR President A. Akaev.
Advertisement airtime was used by one candidate: M. Malabaev - 720 sec.
Public service announcement on the topic of the elections - 210 sec.
Mezon TV
News items on the candidates featured only H. Sabirova - 120 sec.
News airtime featuring the subjects was distributed as follows: information from the voters - 360 sec. (34.4 %), information about the meetings of the Government with OSCE ambassadors - 280 sec. (26.7 %), information from the media - 250 sec. (23.9 %), information from the power structures - 155 sec. (14.8%). Total: 1045 seconds of airtime.
Tone of statements. All information had a neutral tone.
Advertisement airtime was not used by the candidates.
Public service announcements: none.

Piramida-Osh TV
The news items did not mention the candidates.
News items featuring the subjects involved in the elections were distributed as follows: CEC information - 1120 sec. (62 %), information from the power structures - 520 sec. (29 %), information from the voters - 160 sec. (9 %). Total: 1800 seconds of airtime.
Tone of statements. All information had a neutral tone.
Advertisement airtime was not used by the candidates.
Public service announcements: none.

KEREMET TV

The news items did not mention the candidates.
News items featuring the subjects involved in the elections was distributed as follows: CEC information - 2000 sec. (72.5 % ), information from the voters - 186 sec. (6.7 % ), information from the power structures on ensuring the country's safety during the electioneering period - 490 sec. (17.7 %), statement of the mayor of Osh - 80 sec. (2.9 % ). Total: 2756 seconds of airtime.
Tone of statements. All information had a neutral tone.
Advertisement airtime was not used by the candidates.
Public service announcements amounted to 603 seconds of airtime.

PRINT MEDIA
Provincial government newspapers
(Ekho Osha, Osh Sodosi, Osh Janyrygy)
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections was represented as follows: information from the voters - 868 lines (78.4 %), information from political parties and movements - 180 lines (16.2 %), CEC information - 59 lines (5.3 %). Total: 1107 lines.
Tone of the published items. The information featured a neutral tone.
Advertisement items on the candidates: H. Sabirova - 700 lines (54 %), A. Sabirov - 600 lines (46 %)
Total: 1300 lines.
District and city government newspapers
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections. Only information from the voters was featured - 5189 lines.
The tone of the printed items was neutral.
Advertisement items featured one candidate: P. Tolonov - 500 lines.
Private newspapers
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections was distributed as follows: information about political parties and movements - 208 lines (82 %), information from the voters - 45 lines (18 %). Total: 253 lines
The tone of the printed items was neutral.
Advertisement items from the candidates: B. Murzubraimov - 250 lines (11.9 %), A. Abdurahmanov - 250 lines (11. 9 %), D. Sabirov - 1100 lines (52.3 %), T. Jorobekov - 500 lines (23.8 %). Total: 2100 lines.
Government agency newspapers (Salyk-Ekspress newspaper)
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections. Only information from the voters was featured - 274 lines.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisement was given by one candidate: I. Gaipkulov - 500 lines.

JALALABAT PROVINCE
BROADCAST MEDIA
JTRK (government television and radio)
The news items on television and radio did not talk about the candidates.
News airtime featuring the subjects involved in the elections: none.
Advertisement airtime was used by the candidates in the following amounts: E. Torobaev - 380 sec. (34.5 %), E. Begimkulov - 45 sec. (4.0 %), K. Asanov - 44 sec. (4.0%), R. Bostonov - 30 sec. (2.7 %), S. Myrzakmatov - 600 sec. (54.5 %). Total: 1099 seconds of airtime on television and radio.
Public service announcements: none.

Ekho Manasa TV
The news items on television and radio did not talk about the candidates.
News items featuring the subjects involved in the elections were distributed as follows: information from NGOs in the form of consultations for the voters - 660 sec. (18.3 %), interview with an assistant professor of a university - 1320 sec. (36.6 %), information on the procedure of using invisible ink on the voters' fingers - 1620 sec. (45.0 %). Total: 3600 seconds of airtime.
The tone of the statements was neutral.
Advertisement airtime was used by the candidates as follows: T. Kalmatov - 722 sec. (42.5 %), M. Batyrbekov - 386 sec. (22.7%), M. Kaiypov - 544 sec. (32.0 %), K. Asanov - 43 sec. (2.5 %). Total: 1695 seconds of airtime.
Public service announcements amounted to 180 seconds of airtime.
In addition a thematic series entitled Knowledge of the Law is the Way to Fair Elections was featured on the television channel for four days amounting to 3120 seconds.

PRINT MEDIA
Provincial government newspaper
(Akyikat, Jalolobod Tongi)
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections. Only information from the CEC was featured - 150 lines.
The tone of the printed items was neutral.
Advertisement items were given by the candidates in the following amounts: J. Ryskulova - 900 lines (46 %), E. Torobaev - 380 lines (20 %), K. Ismanov - 200 lines (10 %), A. Irsaliev - 190 lines (10 %), B. Orozbekova - 115 lines (6 %), K. Kasymov - 115 lines (6 %), B. Shermatov - 30 lines (2 %). Total: 1930 lines on 7 candidates.
Special individual newspaper issues entitled Akyikat, which is also the name of Akyikat newspaper (the organ of Jalalabat Provincial State Administration), have been published for the following candidates for deputy: Iskhak Masaliev - Akyikat (of 03 February 2005, 8 pages, 5000 copies), Rustam Mamanov - Akyikat (of 03 February 2005, 8 pages, 10,000 copies), and Kanybek Joroev - Akyikat (of 03 February 2005, 8 pages, 5,000 copies).


Private newspapers
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: none.
Advertisement items from the following candidates were featured in Fergana newspaper: K. Batyrov - 450 lines (34 %), J. Ryskulova - 900 lines (66 %). Total: 1350 lines on 2 candidates.

CHUI PROVINCE
BROADCAST MEDIA
Piramida-Karabalta TV
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: none.
Advertisement airtime was used by one candidate: T. Subanbekov - 272 seconds of airtime.
Public service announcements: none.
Tatina Radio
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: none.
Advertisement airtime was used by one candidate: T. Subanbekov - 530 seconds of airtime.
Public service announcements: none.
PRINT MEDIA
Provincial government newspapers
(Chui Bayany, Chuiskie Izvestiya)
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: information about the KR President A. Akaev - 19 lines (53 %), information from the voters - 17 lines (47 %). Total: 36 lines.
The tone of the printed items was neutral.
Advertisement items: none.
District and city government newspapers
The news items did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: information from the voters - 163 lines.
The tone of the printed items was neutral.
Advertisement items on the candidates: Newspaper space allocated to the candidates: D. Oskonbaev - 1000 lines (16.6 %), N. Abdyldaev - 900 lines (15.0 %), S. Beishenaliev - 900 lines (15.0 %), T. Kojomkulov - 200 lines (3.3 %), V. Tolokontsev - 500 lines (8.3 %), V. Dil' - 1000 lines (16.6 % ), E. Kangel'diev - 500 lines ( %), M. Junushaliev - 500 lines (8.3 %), T. Subanbekov - 500 lines (8.3 %). Total: 6000 lines on 9 candidates.
Private newspapers

The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: information from the voters - 760 lines.
The tone of the printed items was neutral.
Advertisement items on the candidates: M. Junushaliev - 400 lines (53 %), V. Dil' - 450 lines ( 47 %). Total: 850 lines on 2 candidates.
ISSYKKUL PROVINCE
BROADCAST MEDIA
EKO TV
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: CEC information - 300 sec.
Tone of information - neutral.
Advertisement airtime was not used by the candidates.
Anten-TV
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: information from political parties and movements - 1440 sec., (87 %), information from the voters - 118 sec., (7 %), information from NGOs - 102 sec. (6 %). Total: 1660 seconds of airtime.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisement airtime was not used by the candidates.
LWRadio
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: none.
Advertisement airtime was used by one candidate: S. Japarov - 1800 seconds of airtime.

PRINT MEDIA

Provincial government newspapers
(Issyk-Kol Kabarlary, Vesti Issyk-Kulya)

The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: CEC information - 350 lines (29.1 %), information from the voters - 30 lines (2.5 %), information on the Government - 130 lines(10.8 %), information about the statements of the KR President A. Akaev - 420 lines (35.0 %). Total: 1200 lines.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisement items from the candidates: D. Kendirbaeva - 450 lines (47 %), S. Japarov - 500 lines (53 %). Total: 950 lines on 2 candidates.


District and city government newspapers

The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: information from the voters - 194 lines (81 %), information from political parties and movements - 46 lines (19 %). Total: 240 lines.
Tone of information: neutral.
Tone of the subjects.
Advertisement items on the candidates: none.

Private newspapers

The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: information from the voters - 154 lines (55 %), from NGOs - 92 lines (32 %), from the Government - 38 lines (13 %). Total: 284 lines.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisement items on the candidates: none.

NARYN PROVINCE
BROADCAST MEDIA
Ayan TV
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: none.
Advertisement airtime was used by the candidates as follows: N. Kasiev - 1720 sec. (36 %), K. Samakov - 1200 sec. (25 %), S. Usubalieva - 600 sec. (13 %), M. Jumabekov - 600 sec. (13 %), T. Akun - 600 sec. (13 %). Total: 4720 seconds on 5 candidates
Public service announcements: none.
Almaz-Naryn Radio
The news items mentioned that N. Tuleev withdrew his candidacy.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections. This contained information on the procedure of using invisible ink, allocation of free airtime, and unacceptability of authorities' intervention in the elections - 260 sec.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisements from the candidates: none.
Public service announcements: none.
Tenir-Too Radio
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the CEC - 957 sec. (55 %), from the media - 600 sec. (34 %), from the voters - 201 sec. (11 %). Total: 1758 seconds of airtime.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisements from the candidates: none.
Public service announcements: none.
PRINT MEDIA
Provincial government newspapers (Tenir-Too)
The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the CEC - 2100 lines (72 %), from the voters - 789 lines (27 %), from the Government - 35 lines ( 1 %). Total: 2924 lines.
Tone of information: neutral.
An advertisement item on one candidate was featured: M. Jumabekov - 1750 lines.

The district government newspapers did not feature any items.
TALAS PROVINCE
BROADCAST MEDIA
Provincial State Television and Radio
The news programs did not feature the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections. This only contained information from the voters - 720 sec.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisement airtime was not used.
Public service announcements: none.

PRINT MEDIA
Provincial government newspaper ( Talas Turmushu)

Two issues of this newspaper that came out during the first week of electioneering were completely devoted to advertisements of two individual candidates:
A. Borubaev - newspaper issue of 03 February 2005, 4 pages, circulation not indicated.
E. Nazaraliev - issue of 05 February 2005, 4 pages, circulation not indicated.

District government newspapers

These newspapers give reference information on district election committees, on the election procedure and urge to ensure fairness of the elections. All newspaper space was devoted to these issues during the first week of electioneering.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisement items featured the following candidates: N. Kadyrkulov - 30 lines (19 %), K. Raiymkul uulu - 75 lines (48 %), B. Sherniyazov - 50 lines (33 %). Total: 155 lines on 3 candidates.

Private newspapers

Only one informational bulletin, an organ of a local NGO, is the sole private periodical in Talas Province.
The issue of this publication that came out during the first week of electioneering did not feature any information on the candidates. It contained reports on the preparations for the elections and reference information for the voters.
It did not feature any advertisement items on the candidates.


BATKEN PROVINCE

BROADCAST MEDIA

Salam Radio

The news items featured the candidates who withdrew from the election campaign - 25 sec. (9.8 %), the meetings of the candidates from the Batken Province with the voters - 50 sec. (19.7 %), the voters' picketing in Bishkek - 138 sec. (54.5 %), and the leaflets of Hizb ut Tahrir party that urged against participation in the elections - 40 sec. (15.8 %). Total: 253 seconds.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections: from the CEC - 245 sec. (27.1%), from the media - 35 sec. (3.8 %), from the voters - 453 sec. (50.1 %), about the meetings of the Government with OSCE ambassadors - 124 sec. (13.7 %), about the statements of the KR President A. Akaev - 47 sec. (5.1 %). Total: 904 seconds of airtime.
Tone of information: neutral.
Advertisement airtime was not used by the candidates.
Public service announcements: none.

PRINT MEDIA

Provincial government newspaper (Batken Tany)

The news items did not mention the candidates.
Information on the subjects involved in the elections. An interview with the Public Prosecutor of Batken Province, R. Baktybaev, on an election-related topic was published - 500 lines.
Tone of information: neutral.
An advertisement item on one candidate was featured: A. Burkanov - 300 lines.