Arrest of the director of Next TV Taalai Duishenbiev was extended until July 3. Lawyer Timur Sultanov told 24.kg news agency.
According to him, the decision was made by the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek. The defense does not agree with the ruling and will appeal it to a higher court.
«The investigators failed to substantiate the need to detain my client. The arguments were not presented either in the petition itself or in court,» Timur Sultanov said.
The Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek considered the petition of the Prosecutor General’s Office to stop the broadcasting of the Next TV channel in Kyrgyzstan. Judge Ainura Satarova ruled to partially uphold it and recognize the Next TV publication as extremist.
On March 3, the director of Next TV Taalai Duishenbiev was detained and placed in the remand prison of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) for two months under Article 330 "Incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious and inter-regional hatred (discord). According to the investigation, the TV channel, using resources on social media, disseminated false information about the alleged agreement on provision of military assistance by Kyrgyzstan to Russia during a special operation on the territory of Ukraine. The media cited the former head of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan as the source.
The Investigative Journalism Foundation calls to end pressure on the media. The Ombudsman asks the SCNS and the judiciary to respect the freedom of journalists.
