The women, who were arrested in the case on attempted seizure of power, went on hunger strike and appealed to citizens, mass media, national and international human rights organizations.
«We, political prisoners — Klara Sooronkulova, Rita Karasartova, Perizat Suranova, Orozaiym Narmatova — are declaring our hunger strike beginning today, December 14, 2022, to be continued indefinitely.
Massive political repressions initiated and carried out by the state authorities against a wide range of politicians, activists, journalists, and bloggers by means of downright distortion and fabrication of criminal cases, lawlessness and injustice, are the main causes why we are going to the hunger strike.
We have been imprisoned since October 23, 2022, based on a politically motivated and contrived charges as if we were committing a serious crime — «preparation of mass riots». It was done by the investigative state agencies applying a false interpretation of the legal exercise of the constitutional rights — to freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly — as a criminal offense,» the public appeal says.
At the same time, as noted, the state investigators have not yet taken any investigative actions, as required by the law, against the accused. Despite this, the Pervomaisky District Court extended their detention until February 20, 2023.
«We attest and warn that the ruling authorities of Kyrgyzstan suppressing the rights and freedoms of citizens, persecuting political opposition and, thus, systematically destroying the democratic foundations of the Kyrgyz state, lead the country not only down to the presidential authoritarianism but to its worst and ugliest form — tyranny, based on a regime of terror.
And today, for us, the political prisoners of Kyrgyzstan, the only viable way of fighting for our rights and freedoms, but also for the overall democratic values and the rule of law, is to begin the hunger strike.
We place all responsibility for the consequences of the hunger strike personally on the president of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, chairman of the State Committee for National Security Kamchibek Tashiev, minister of Internal Affairs Ulan Niyazbekov, prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev and the investigators, prosecutors and judges who are unreservedly executing their political whims,» the appeal reads.
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.
