Mass arrests: Aidanbek Akmatov remanded in custody

The Bishkek City Court considered a preventive measure against a journalist Aidanbek Akmatov.

The defendant’s lawyers asked to release Akmatov from custody. According to lawyers, there are no grounds for his arrest.

The journalist himself told the court that he was not a member of the Committee for protection of Kempir-Abad reservoir. He attended its meeting only as a journalist.

Leaving the deliberation room, the panel of judges read out the ruling, upholding the decision of the Pervomaisky District Court of the capital.

The Committee for protection of Kempir-Abad reservoir was created on October 22. It includes activists, politicians and MPs. On the same day, in an interview with Kabar news agency, President Sadyr Japarov said: the authorities have information who was behind the rallies and marches on Kempir-Abad issue.

Mass arrests began on October 23. Authorities placed 26 people in jail on charges of preparing for riots.

A number of international human rights organizations such as the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), Freedom Now and others issued a statement calling for the immediate release of politicians and activists arrested in Kyrgyzstan.