11:47, 04 мая 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Darya PODOLSKAYA
International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) and Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) condemn the spate of criminal charges initiated in Kyrgyzstan against journalist Bolot Temirov as politically motivated. The appeal is published on IPHR website.
The appeal says that the charges represent a serious assault on freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan in apparent retaliation for Temirov’s investigations into high-level corruption.
"We call on the Kyrgyzstani authorities to drop the charges against Bolot Temirov and ensure that he is able to carry out his legitimate journalistic work without intimidation and harassment," the appeal reads.
"The timing of the charges brought against Bolot Temirov clearly indicates that they are intended to punish him for his courageous efforts to expose and fight against government corruption. The international community should insist that the Kyrgyzstani authorities immediately drop these politically motivated and punitive charges — not only for Temirov’s sake, but for all independent journalists in Kyrgyzstan," said Brigitte Dufour, Director of IPHR.
"It is no coincidence that that the criminal cases against Temirov were opened directly after the publication of corruption reports which are highly inconvenient to a highly placed official," said Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal, acting Secretary General of the NHC.
What we are seeing is an orchestrated campaign of persecution, of that there can be little doubt.
Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal.
If convicted, Temirov could face a lengthy prison sentence.
"The prosecution of Bolot Temirov represents a shameful new milestone for freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan. This brave journalist is being made an example of for the apparent purpose of intimidating the wider journalistic community,’’ said Lenur Kerymov, Director of International Programmes at the HFHR.
‘’The Kyrgyzstani authorities should bring this alarming trend of harassment and intimidation to a halt, safeguard freedom of expression in accordance with the country’s international obligations, and protect independent media and journalists from persecution,’’ said Anders Pettersson, Executive Director at CRD.
Four more criminal cases were opened against the journalist. Bolot Temirov connects this with the latest investigation, which says that the company of the son of the Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev, Taimuras, won several tenders in Jalal-Abad.