The European Union Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic commented on the decision of the Bishkek City Court to deport journalist Bolot Temirov. The statement was posted on Twitter.
«We are deeply concerned by the verdict of the Bishkek City Court to expel prominent journalist Bolot Temirov and by his harsh immediate detention,» the statement says.
This action goes counter to Kyrgyzstan’s international commitments on independent media, freedom of speech and guaranteeing the personal safety of investigative journalists.
EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic
«We call on the Kyrgyz authorities to fully adhere to these fundamental international principles,» the statement reads.
Bolot Temirov was expelled from the country by court decision on November 23. Immediately after the trial, where the verdict was announced, he was taken by force, accompanied by law enforcement officers, to the airport and sent by plane to Russia.
Earlier, the Sverdlovsky District Court acquitted Bolot Temirov on two counts. The case was dismissed on two more, including on a fake passport, due to expiration of the statute of limitations. The court did not apply punishment to the journalist.
