March for freedom #REaction starts in Bishkek

A march for freedom #REaction began in Bishkek.

The media community, activists and concerned citizens marched from the Railway Station to the Philharmonic Hall.

About 200 people participated in the march.

The protesters demanded to return of Bolot Temirov to his homeland, release political prisoners, return to the legal framework and release the freedom of speech from the cage.

Participants carried candles and other light-emitting devices — flashlights, mobile phones — in their hands.

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.

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.