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JOURNALISTS PROTEST AS KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT CREATES COMMISSION ON TV TAKEOVER ATTEMPT. RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 9, No. 231, Part I, 13 December 2005 About 20 employees of Kyrgyzstan's independenttelevision company Pyramid held a protest in front of parliament on12 December as legislators set up a commission to investigate a recent attempt to take over the company (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12December 2005), akipress.org reported. The protesting journaliststaped their mouths to symbolize what they believe is an attempt to muzzle an independent media outlet. The same day, legislators set up a commission that will meet on 14 December to investigate the takeover attempt. Sultan Kurmanbaev, the director of Invest Media, said in Bishkek on 12 December that his company, which claims ownership of Pyramid, does not have ties to either Aidar Akaev, son of former President Askar Akaev, or Maksim Bakiev, son of current President Kurmanbek Bakiev. For his part, President Bakiev said on 12 December that the conflict over the ownership of Pyramid should be settled in the courts, Kabar reported. Bakiev tasked Deputy Prime Minister Adakhan Madumarov with investigating the situation. DK