Khadicha, wife of a convicted human rights activist Azimzhan Askarov, who was sentenced to life in prison, appealed to the President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov with request to pay attention to her husband as a victim of torture. Her appeal was supported by Azimzhan Askarov’s lawyer Valerian Khalitov and the head of Bir Duino Human Rights Center Toleikan Ismailova.
The appeal states that Azimzhan Askarov is an elderly person, who suffers from multiple diseases. He is kept in detention facility 1. The authors of the appeal point out that Azimzhan Askarov was convicted illegally. He is innocent, and the UN Human Rights Committee, having considered his case, recommended to release the prisoner and ensure access to fair justice. However, Kyrgyzstan did not follow this recommendation.
Azimzhan Askarov was sentenced to life imprisonment. He is accused of inciting ethnic hatred and murder of a policeman during June events in the south of the country in 2010.
