Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised concerns regarding the recent conviction of Kyrgyz whistleblower Zhoomart Karabaev, noting it as a disturbing indication of Kyrgyzstan’s judicial practices against whistleblowers and critics. The case of Karabaev, a linguistics expert, serves as an illustration of what HRW characterizes as a wider campaign of retaliatory prosecutions aimed at individuals who speak out against the government.
Karabaev was found guilty by Judge Nurdin Ibraimov of the Pervomaysky District Court under Kyrgyz law, specifically Part 3 of Article 278 and Part 1 of Part 2 of Article 327. These sections relate to “mass riots calling for active disobedience against government officials” and “public calls for violent seizure of power”, respectively. The convictions arose from Karabaev’s social media allegations of corruption within government processes and prosecution-related expert evidence, resulting in a sentence of probation and a fine. Karabaev and his legal team plan to appeal the decision (HRW Report).
In July 2024, Karabaev was apprehended following a series of Facebook posts where he alleged the manipulation of linguistic testimony in trials with political motives. His arrest came after a controversial dismissal from the National Academy of Sciences, where he refused directives to alter linguistic reports to fit prosecution narratives, an act deemed by his employers as releasing state secrets. The prosecution heavily relied on Azamat Zhanishbek Uulu, a figure noted for involvement in other high-profile cases, to provide linguistic analysis confirming elements of incitement in Karabaev’s posts.
Following the verdict, Karabaev expressed his resolve to continue challenging the conviction on Facebook. He described the decision as unlawful and reiterated his commitment to remain vocal despite the ruling. His situation is emblematic of broader governmental efforts to suppress dissent. Concurrently, Amnesty International has documented a pattern of detentions and suppression of media freedoms, notably with raids and arrests in Kyrgyz media outlets such as Kloop Media.
This case underlines significant concerns from international human rights organizations about Kyrgyzstan’s adherence to legal and human rights standards, especially regarding freedom of expression. For more detailed information, HRW’s full statement provides further insight into the implications for human rights and the principle of fair trial in the country.