Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov to put an end to pressure on investigative journalist Bolot Temirov and restore his Kyrgyz nationality. The organization’s statement says.
As noted, a year after his illegal expulsion to Russia, the investigative journalist is living under the threat of attacks from the Kyrgyz authorities who, in addition to stripping him of his nationality, have had the accounts feeding his channel blocked.
«My sources have told me that an order has been issued to harm my physical integrity,» Temirov said.
In addition to the physical threats, Temirov’s financial resources are being restricted. Two of the accounts created in Mbank payment system to receive donations to the Temirov Live YouTube channel have been closed one after the other. The first, in the name of an association openly intended to fund this media outlet, was closed in December 2022 without any warning or reason being given. The second one was blocked last month, shortly after its creation.
«Bolot Temirov was stripped of his nationality after revealing corruption scandals within the Kyrgyz elites. The attacks and threats to which he and his work continue to be subjected prove that the authorities, up to the highest levels of government, seem more bent on persecuting a journalist than defending the country’s interests. We urge President Japarov to put an end to this absurd situation by returning Temirov’s identity papers and allowing him to carry out his investigative reporting unmolested,» Jeanne Cavelier, head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, said.
In a bid to recover his Kyrgyz nationality, Temirov plans to file a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council.
On November 23 last year, journalist Bolot Temirov was expelled from the republic by a court decision. 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. A number of lawyers proved that the expulsion of Bolot Temirov took place with gross violations of the laws and the Constitution. The investigative journalist announced the beginning of open surveillance of his team on social media.
