21-08-2008
Bishkek

Dear colleages! Dear brothers and sisters! With pain in our hearts we learn what is happening in South Ossetia, Georgia.

Irrespective of the fierce filtering of news from this region on the part of the Georgian and Russian official structures, we received and continue receiving alternative information about what is taking place in reality from journalists, bloggers, human rights activists and ordinary citizens who are not indifferent about the events in South Ossetia, Georgia.

We are shocked about unprecedented lies that are circulating around the news of this conflict, which we believe only increased the gap between these brotherly peoples.

We are witnessing not only a bloody conflict, in which many innocent people have suffered, but also a powerful news war, which impact all of us and which is beginning to divide us.

Due to the powerful media war, anti-Georgian sentiment is growing in Russian, and anti-Russian sentiment in Georgia.

Such actions on the part of military and political figures can lead to conflict, not only in the Caucasus, but in all of our countries with the saddest of consequences.

We are concerned by the murder of journalists, who were carrying out their professional duties in this region. We are concerned by the actions of uncontrollable masses of looters. We are concerned that the region can find itself in a humanitarian catastrophe.

In such a situation, it is essential that the voice of global civil society should be heard by leaders, politicians and military leaders.

We urge the civil society of Georgia, South Ossetia, Russia and worldwide to assess the military actions, to give a civic and social assessments of the actions of the ruling powers and the military forces in the conflict zone.

We urge not only politicians, but civil society in the conflicting areas to discuss these issues peacefully. Politicians alone cannot resolve this, and we have never seen them discuss. It is essential that societies themselves, tired of suffering, learn to dictate their will to the authorities.

We urge you to defend peace
in the Caucasus!

1. Almaz Kalet
"Tamga-News"
Kyrgyzstan

2. Dinara Oshyrakhunova
Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society
Kyrgyzstan

3. Ulugbek Babakulov
the editor-in-chief newspaper "Freedom Voice"
Kyrgyzstan

4. Marat Tokoev
Public fund "Journalist"
Kyrgyzstan

5. Abdumomun Mamaraimov
journalist
Kyrgyzstan

6. Alla Pyatibratova
journalist
Kyrgyzstan

7. Azamat Tunaev
the editor-in-chief newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda - Кyrgyzstan"

8. Abdumalik Sharipov
press-secretary NGO "Spravedlivost"
Kyrgyzstan

9. Timur Shaikhutdinov
Kyrgyzstan

10. Azinjan Askarov
NGO "Vozdukh"
Kyrgyzstan

11. Pavel Gromsky
www.job-migrant.org, Public fund "TseONIS"
Kyrgyzstan

12. Jyldyz Bekbaeva
journalist
Kyrgyzstan

13. Alishet Toksonbeav
journalist
Kyrgyzstan;

14. Sakhira Nazarova
journalist
Kyrgyzstan

15. Irina Grabovska
journalist, the independent on-line "Politikantrop"
Kiev, Ukraine

16. Adyljan Shamshiev
NGO "BINGO"
Kyrgyzstan

17. Maxim Kuleshov
NGO "Mir - svet kul'tura"
Kyrgyzstan

18. Janna Saralaeva
Association "Women - Leaders Jalal - Abat"
Kyrgyzstan

19. Abduvalieva Gylfira
The Crisis Center "Кaniet"
Kyrgyzstan

20. Asya Sasukbaeva
NGO "Interbilim'
Kyrgyzstan

21. Asulbek Eshiev
The centre of gender formation at Osh the state legal institute
Kyrgyzstan

22. Ilim Karupbekov
Media Commissioner Institute
Kyrgyzstan

23. Burul Usmanalieva
the sociologist
Kyrgyzstan

24. Valetina Gritsenko
NGO "Spravedlivost'"
Kyrgyzstan

25. Burul Makenbaeva
NGO " Mental health and a society"
Kyrgyzstan

26. Svetlana Bashtovenko
The Resource Center for Elderly
Kyrgyzstan

27. Nadira Eshmatova
Youth remedial group
Kyrgyzstan

28. Nurgul Sharshembieva
NGO "House of the Journalist"
Kyrgyzstan

29. Khamaeva Gulsira
journalist
newspaper "Za ugol", Kyrgyzstan

30. Kaparova Jamilya
NGO "Ensan Diamond'
Kyrgyzstan

31. Toktosunova Ruskyl
NGO "Health and youth formation in 21 century"
Kyrgyzstan

32. Alla Kotlyar
a weekly journal observer "The Mirror of week"
Ukraine

33. Mattias Eriksson, Lund, Sweden

34. Umarova Elmira
NGO "Ulubka"
Kyrgyzstan

35. Victoria Ivleva-Yorke
journalist, «Novaya Gazeta"
Russia

36. Madeleine Reeves,
University of Manchester
UK

37. Zhalil Saparov
chairman Public fund "Regional association of journalists"
Kyrgyzstan

38. Zamir Osorov
journalist, newspaper "MSN"
Kyrgyzstan

39. Jeenalu Kambaraliev
director "Asia-TV "
Kyrgyzstan

40. Nazgul Turdubekova
NGO "League of protection of the rights of the child"
Kyrgyzstan

41. Svetlana Varavina
NGO "Hope and the World"
Kyrgyzstan