Kyrgyz authorities should fully and swiftly investigate a recent attack on journalist Bektursun Zhorobekov and hold the perpetrators to account. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement.
On the evening of Wednesday, October 26, four unidentified men severely beat Zhorobekov, a correspondent with the independent broadcaster Super TV, near his home in the capital Bishkek and stole his phone and wallet.
According to Super TV editor-in-chief Elvira Karaeva, the attackers filmed the beating and forced Zhorobekov to apologize to a man who was the subject of one of his reports before repeatedly kicking him in the head. Karaeva said Zhorobekov had previously received threats that he believed were related to the same report.
The journalist lay unconscious in the street for almost five hours after the attack before regaining consciousness and returning home. As of Wednesday, he remains in a hospital undergoing treatment for a concussion and severe bruising to his head.
«The brutal beating of journalist Bektursun Zhorobekov cannot go unpunished,» said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. «Kyrgyz authorities must demonstrate their dedication to upholding journalists’ safety by swiftly and transparently investigating the attack on Zhorobekov and holding all involved to account, including those who may have ordered the attack.»
Zhorobekov filed a complaint with police the following day.
As noted, CPJ called the police station where Zhorobekov filed his complaint but no one with knowledge of the case was able to immediately reply.
