Images of Radio Azattyk's offices in Bishkek, as a court in Russia-allied Kyrgyzstan orders the closure of the local branch of US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which criticised the "outrageous" ruling. Radio Azattyk is a prominent media outlet in the Central Asian country that regularly reports on opposition groups and investigates alleged corruption. A court in the capital, Bishkek, said in a statement that it had granted the culture ministry's request to stop the outlet's work. The former Soviet republic enjoys relative freedom of speech compared to other countries in Central Asia, but rights groups have decried what they say is growing pressure on the press. IMAGES