The Bishkek-based Kyrgyz National News Agency Kabar (Kyrgyz Uluttuk Maalymat Agenttigi), operating as Kabar, is the official news agency in Kyrgyzstan, founded in 1937 under the name KyrTAG. In 1992, it was renamed KyrgyzKabar and became a state-run news agency. In 2001 it was given its current name.
Media assets
News agency: Kabar
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Kabar operates as a state-owned company, with management appointed by the government.
Source of funding and budget
The government provides most of the budget to cover Kabar’s costs, according to local journalists interviewed for this report in December 2023.
Editorial independence
Kabar’s editorial strategy is completely controlled by the government. The agency as a rule avoids criticism of the authorities and focuses mostly on promoting government activities, according to local journalists interviewed for this report in December 2023.
No domestic statute or independent assessment or oversight mechanism that establishes and validates Kabar’s editorial independence has been identified.
September 2024