H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 H1N1 Coverage of swine flu in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan) Analysis of publications on-line only

Uzbekistan took 31st place and Tajikistan is 37th in the top 38 of the most unstable countries in the world, according to report. The situation in Tajikistan deteriorated. Last year it was ranked 38th and was not included to the list of failed states. Kyrgyzstan’s position this year is better. It was 39th in Despite many human rights violations in the country, the experts considered that the situation was improved. In fact, Uzbekistan’s rank has improved, from rank 28, to 31 over the past year. So has Turkmenistan (59th) and Kazakhstan (105th). Two Central Asian states Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have been admitted as “failed states” by Fund for Peace which have published their Failed States Index for 2009.

Swine flu outbreak Kazakhstan – July 2009 (17 cases) Kyrgyzstan – August 2009 (78 cases) Uzbekistan – December 2009 (???) > According to international media, only in one hospital 7 people died from swine flu in November 2009 Turkmenistan – November 2009 (???) > No data available Tajikistan – December 2009 (8 cases) No fatal cases, according to the official data All the data is as for December 2009

Media coverage of swine flu in Kazakhstan Quantitative analysis Quantitative analysis Media coverage developments Media coverage developments Content analysis Content analysis

Quantitative analysis

Content analysis Main news Preparation works (May, June) Preparation works (May, June) Outbreak. 13 cases reported (July) Outbreak. 13 cases reported (July) No infected people; Pilgrimage (November) No infected people; Pilgrimage (November) Vaccine (December) Vaccine (December)

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan outbreak in August outbreak in August peak of swine flu in November (Panic and hysteria among population + masks, drug’s speculation, outbreak of severe seasonal flu, schools closed for quarantine) peak of swine flu in November (Panic and hysteria among population + masks, drug’s speculation, outbreak of severe seasonal flu, schools closed for quarantine) decline of decease in December decline of decease in December Content analysis

Case of Uzbekistan The one of the most repressive state in the world!!! The best illustration of this is Andijan massacre.

The Andijan massacre occurred when Uzbek Interior Ministry and National Security Service troops fired into a crowd of protesters in Andijan, Uzbekistan on 13 May Estimates of those killed on 13 May range from between 187, the official count of the government, and 5,000 people, with most outside reports estimating several hundred dead. A defector from Uzbekistan's secret service alleged that 1,500 were killed. The bodies of many of those who died were allegedly hidden in mass graves following the massacre.

Swine flu: Publications in the foreign media - 4 Local media - 1 > Uzbek authorities’ policy towards swine flu is that there is no swine flu in Uzbekistan Total - only 5 articles > no data available for foreign media

2 publications in May - general information about swine flu in the world. General tone of publications is to calm dawn people 2 publications in May - general information about swine flu in the world. General tone of publications is to calm dawn people 2 articles in November - 7 people died only in one small clinic. No word from local media... 2 articles in November - 7 people died only in one small clinic. No word from local media... 1 publication about at least 400 people died from swine flu. No reaction in the local media... 1 publication about at least 400 people died from swine flu. No reaction in the local media...

Case of Turkmenistan President for Life - Turkmenbashy (about 20 years of dictatorship ) President for Life - Turkmenbashy (about 20 years of dictatorship ) According to the 2009 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan had the third-worst restrictions on the freedom of the press in the world after North Korea. According to the 2009 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan had the third-worst restrictions on the freedom of the press in the world after North Korea. No international media No international media No satellite TV No satellite TV Internet censorship Internet censorship Media censorship Media censorship

No data available to confirm fatal cases and number of infected people Pilgrimage ban Panic and hysteria among population Drug’s speculation Media coverage: Total - 5 publications International media only Main news in November: 2 2 people died

Analysis of Tajikistan media coverage Total - 5 articles 2 international publications 3 local publications Stories: - Preparation (May 2009) - First suspicion of swine flu (December 2009) - Tamiflu and vaccine (February 2009)

Irin and Centrasia.ru : Central Asian states are preparing themselves to combat swine flu (September 2009) Eurasianet.org: Swine flu in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Recent developments (November 2009) IWPR.net: Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan pilgrimes have no fear of swine flu 3 publications by international media about swine flu in Central Asia:

Comparative analysis

Conclusions: Media coverage of swine flu in Central Asia: irregular demonstrated little preparedness of governments to combat the decease partisan one-sided (no angles, no pluralism) restricted by governments’ propaganda teams absence of any critical views general tone of publications is to combat panic and hysteria among people