Central Asian Media’s Silence on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Central Asian state media have generally remained silent about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Turkmenistan’s government-controlled outlets completely ignoring the issue. Kazakhstan’s state media minimally mentions the war despite its geographical and economic implications. Independent media face pressures and restrictions from authorities when covering the war, resulting in a complex and often dangerous landscape for journalism in the region.

In contemporary Central Asia, state-controlled media outlets exhibit a significant tendency to downplay coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, mirroring the Soviet-era suppression of unfavorable news. Specifically, Turkmenistan’s state media has glaringly ignored the ongoing war since its commencement, reflecting an information environment reminiscent of the former Soviet Union. Across the region, government-run stations have limited their reporting on the war, despite the undeniable impact it has had locally, such as the return of deceased soldiers to their home countries. Kazakhstan stands out as the most notable exception among Central Asian nations, as it has issued some statements against Russia’s territorial acquisitions during the war. Given its proximity to Russia—the country shares a lengthy border—and the influx of Russian citizens into Kazakhstan to evade military conscription, the ramifications of the war are particularly pronounced in this nation. Nevertheless, state media offers little insight into these developments; for instance, recent broadcasts provided coverage on distant events, such as Bolivia’s forest fires, while omitting critical updates related to the conflict. In Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, state media largely disregards the war, while Kyrgyzstan’s KTRK network provides minimal coverage focused primarily on major developments, albeit with a neutral stance. In contrast, independent media in the region discusses the conflict more openly, although this has led to increased tension with Russian authorities, resulting in restrictive measures against those outlets that defy Moscow’s narratives. Private news agencies, like Kyrgyzstan’s 24.kg, have attempted to incorporate diverse viewpoints but faced backlash from both government officials and Russian representatives for doing so. This media outlet even faced legal consequences, illustrating the precarious environment for press freedom in the region. Other outlets in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have similarly experienced pressure from Russian regulators seeking to censor unfavorable coverage. In authoritarian states such as Turkmenistan, the pervasive control over media means that any reporting on international conflicts is almost entirely absent—thereby silencing voices that might present alternative perspectives on the war. This systemic erasure of information reflects a broader trend of state-controlled narratives dominating public discourse in Central Asia.

The media landscape in Central Asia has long been characterized by a lack of independence, particularly in countries closely aligned with Russia. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the reaction within Central Asian media varied significantly. While state-controlled outlets largely avoided discussing the war, independent media emerged as crucial voices in reporting the conflict, despite facing backlash and censorship from both local and foreign authorities. Turkmenistan exemplifies the extent of control over information, maintaining a media environment where dissenting perspectives are virtually non-existent, akin to conditions that prevailed in the Soviet Union.

In summary, the lack of reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war by Central Asian state media demonstrates a significant continuity of authoritarian control reminiscent of the Soviet era. While Kazakhstan has managed to articulate some cautious views regarding Russia’s actions, most countries in the region, particularly Turkmenistan, continue to provide little to no coverage of a conflict that deeply impacts their populations. The fragile nature of independent media in Kyrgyzstan illustrates the challenges these outlets face in addressing the conflict, further underscoring the pervasive influence of regional powers in shaping narratives around geopolitical events.

Original Source: www.rferl.org