Amnesty International has issued a call to the Kyrgyzstani authorities, urging them to rescind what they describe as unsubstantiated and politically motivated charges against independent journalists. The appeal comes as journalists from multiple local media outlets, including YouTube-based Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese, face potential prison sentences of up to six years ahead of a verdict scheduled for October 3, 2024, by the Lenin District Court of Bishkek (source).
Following a series of house raids on January 16, 2024, 11 journalists were taken into custody under Article 278, part 3 of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code. They stand accused of inciting mass riots and instigating disobedience and violence against citizens (Human Rights Watch report). Four of these journalists remain under pretrial detention, including Mahabat Tazhibek-kyzy of Temirov LIVE, while others are under house arrest.
Amnesty International’s acting Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Denis Krivosheev, emphasized the charges as an attempt to silence critical, independent media outlets. He reiterated the demand for the Kyrgyzstani authorities to release the journalists and drop all charges to allow these media to function without intimidation (Amnesty International statement).
The actions against these journalists reportedly stem from their investigations into alleged governmental corruption. International entities like the Committee to Protect Journalists have expressed ongoing concerns about freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan. Separately, proposed amendments to criminalize the possession of “extremist” materials raised alarms among rights groups like HRW, fearing these laws could broadly stifle political dissent and journalism under the guise of national security (HRW analysis).
Consistent with a pattern of increasing hostility toward independent journalism, Bolot Temirov, the founder of Temirov LIVE, was deported to Russia in 2022. Such measures have drawn criticism from a variety of international observers, positing that these actions against journalists mark a repressive shift that contradicts Kyrgyzstan’s human rights obligations.
Amnesty International, along with other international human rights organizations, continue to campaign for the reversal of censorship measures and the overall fostering of free expression, underscoring the importance of retaining these rights in a functioning democracy. The international community watches closely as Kyrgyzstan approaches the judgment day for these journalists, aware of the case’s broader implications for press freedom in the region.
Read the full article on the JURIST website here.