Moscow's New Media Push: 'Nomad TV' Launches in Kyrgyzstan

A new television channel called Nomad TV is gearing up to start in Kyrgyzstan, stirring worries about a new source of Russian propaganda in Central Asia.

The channel, which will broadcast 24/7, is scheduled to go live from Bishkek on November 27, just before Kyrgyzstan's quick parliamentary elections on November 30. People believe this timing is Moscow's way of boosting its influence in the area, especially since its soft power has weakened since it invaded Ukraine in 2022. The launch also comes as President Sadyr Japarov tries to get more power while limiting political and media freedoms.

Leadership and Kremlin Links

Nomad TV's team includes journalists who used to work for Russian state media, with producer Anna Abakumova as a key person. She's known to be close to Margarita Simonyan, the head of the Kremlin-funded RT channel and a major figure in Russian propaganda. Abakumova was once a chief producer at RT and received awards from Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for her reporting from occupied areas of Ukraine, like Luhansk, Donetsk, and Mariupol.

Political expert Ruslan Akmatbek sees the appointment of Simonyan’s associate as a sign that the Kremlin plans to use Nomad TV as a propaganda tool in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.

Recruitment and Local effect

Nomad TV is actively hiring experienced Kyrgyz journalists from both state media (like NTRK/UTRK) and private outlets (like Channel 7) by offering salaries that are twice as high as their current pay. These high wages, reportedly reaching 100,000 som, are attracting local journalists and making it hard for Kyrgyz media outlets to compete. Former editors from the Kyrgyz office of the Russian news agency Sputnik, including its former chief editor, Erkin Alymbekov, are reportedly handling the staffing.

Reports say that the Eurasia non-profit is training new recruits. Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor, who fled to Russia in 2019 after being convicted of crimes, founded this organization in Russia in 2024. Margarita Simonyan is also on its board of trustees. The organization is very involved in Kyrgyzstan, offering journalism courses, grants, and funding local projects.

Geopolitical and Domestic Situation

This propaganda plan is part of Russia's information warfare because it fears losing its influence in Central Asia. Leaders in the area are building stronger relations with Western countries, Turkey, and China. Analysts suggest that by making Nomad TV seem like a local, Kyrgyz-friendly channel, Moscow is trying to get around the local dislike for Russian state media, which is already common in the country (with many Russian channels and the Sputnik news agency operating there).

This new, well-funded foreign outlet is arriving as independent journalism in Kyrgyzstan faces heavy pressure from the government. In October 2025, a court in Bishkek called materials from investigative media projects like Temirov Live and Kloop.kg extremist, which led to criminal charges and prison sentences for journalists, further damaging the local media scene.