The government of Kyrgyzstan has enacted a sweeping new law banning access to pornographic content online, while simultaneously asserting state control over the nation’s internet infrastructure. The measures, signed into law by President Sadyr Japarov and published Tuesday, mark a significant expansion of government authority in the digital realm.

The law, titled “On the Ban on Access to Websites Containing Elements of a Pornographic Nature in the Internet Space,” is framed by officials as a move to protect the “moral and ethical values of society” and safeguard “the spiritual and moral health of the individual.”

Effective ten days after its official publication, the law empowers a designated state authority to identify pornographic content and order the suspension of the websites or specific pages hosting it for up to two months. The suspension order is mandatory for all internet service providers, hosting companies, and content owners operating within Kyrgyzstan.

Violators of the ban face administrative penalties under existing laws on civil offenses.

Alongside the pornography ban, President Japarov also signed a decree creating a temporary state monopoly over international internet traffic. Beginning August 15, the state-owned telecommunications company ElCat will become the exclusive provider of international bandwidth during a one-year pilot program. All other Kyrgyz telecom operators must transfer their contracts for international internet services to ElCat within two months.

The president’s office said the arrangement is aimed at centralizing and streamlining internet traffic management. However, critics view the moves as part of a broader campaign to tighten governmental control over information flows.

Observers have expressed concern that these measures signal a growing erosion of democratic norms in what was once regarded as Central Asia’s most politically open society.

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

The twin measures come amid a broader shift in Kyrgyzstan’s political landscape since Japarov assumed power in 2020 following anti-government protests. Since then, independent media and opposition voices have faced increasing pressure. The president has frequently invoked the defense of “traditional Kyrgyz values” as justification for tightening social and political controls.

Under the new law, internet providers must immediately comply with content takedown orders issued by cultural or regulatory authorities. The criteria for what constitutes “pornographic content” remain broad, and critics fear the legislation could be used to restrict a wide range of material, including sexual education resources, LGBTQ+ content, or other forms of expression deemed culturally inappropriate by conservative authorities.

In parallel, the move to centralize internet traffic via ElCat has sparked concern among civil society groups, who warn that it could pave the way for deeper surveillance and censorship of online activity in the country.

The developments place Kyrgyzstan alongside other authoritarian-leaning governments that have implemented broad internet restrictions in the name of public morality and national security.

As parliamentary and presidential elections loom in 2026 and 2027, respectively, analysts suggest that tighter control over digital information may serve the dual purpose of reinforcing Japarov’s political standing while silencing dissent.