Kyrgyzstan on July 29 banned access to online pornography.

At the same time, the populist-nationalist administration under President Sadyr Japarov imposed state control over international internet traffic.

Japarov's office explained the ban on pornography as necessary to "protect moral and ethical values" in mostly Muslim Kyrgyzstan. Internet providers are now required to block pornographic websites in line with decisions issued by the culture ministry. Violations will trigger fines. The ban is expected to lead to a surge in the use of virtual private networks, VPNs, as internet users attempt to get around the restrictions. The move comes as countries including the UK force pornographic websites to run age verification checks on visitors to their sites.

Japarov has made protecting what he deems traditional Kyrgyz values a priority of his agenda, but as a result Kyrgyzstan has lost its reputation as an "island of democracy" in Central Asia, with authoritarian moves to shut down independent media and squeeze out various domestic and international NGOs drawing condemnation from global rights watchdogs.

A decree signed by Japarov on subjecting international internet traffic to a state monopoly means state-owned telecoms company ElCat will become Kyrgyzstan's only provider of such internet links for a year-long trial period, starting from August 15. All contracts for international bandwidth held by other Kyrgyz telecom operators must be handed to ElCat within two months.

Bishkek-based political analyst Emil Juraev told Reuters: “This decision only adds to the growing role of the state at the expense of market freedom in Kyrgyzstan.”

Japarov is expected to run for a second term as president in an election due in 2027.

In another move to bring in new controversial legislation, Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry has submitted a bill that if adopted would bring back the concept of recidivism, or repeat offending, to the Criminal Code and limit the liability of civil servants if certain actions were seen as protecting national security, The Times of Central Asia reported on July 29.