Defendants in the so-called Kempir-Abad case, who are in the Bishkek pretrial detention center 1, appealed to the Ambassadors of the United States, Germany, France, the European Union, the European Commission and the European Parliament, accredited in Kyrgyzstan, with a request to impose personal sanctions against some high-ranking officials of the country and not issue them visas. The appeal was posted on Ravshan Dzheenbekov’s Facebook page.
The authors of the text believe that the restrictions should apply to President Sadyr Japarov, head of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov, Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev, Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev, Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov and members of their families.
In their opinion, the country’s leadership stands for suppression of fundamental freedoms, violation of human rights, is engaged in corruption and persecution of activists, journalists, human rights activists and opposition politicians.
The appeal states that «... Representatives of the current authoritarian government also brought to Kyrgyzstan the negative experience of Russia in persecuting civil society, free media and political opponents. As a result, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of business and political competition were limited in Kyrgyzstan.»
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 27 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.
