The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the government of Kyrgyzstan to immediately release the eleven reporters and to halt its crackdown on investigative journalism and freedom of expression, which breaches country’s obligations under international human rights law. The organization said in a statement.
«Prosecuting journalists who investigated alleged corruption among the country’s elites in order to silence them is an act carried out by authoritarian regimes. We are alarmed by the dangerous and worrying turn against freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan and urge the authorities to immediately release our eleven colleagues and drop all charges against them. The government must respect independent journalism,» IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said.
On January 16, the office of Temirov Live was searched and editorial equipment was confiscated. The police searched homes and detained 11 current and former employees of the media outlet.
The Interior Ministry issued a statement announcing that, as a result of «forensic linguistic examination» of content found on the social media pages of Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese on December 30, criminal proceedings had been initiated against them under article 278, part 3 of the Criminal Code for «calling for riots.»
All detainees were arrested on January 17 until the end of investigation by court decision.
Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy, Sapar Akunbekov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliev, Aktilek Kaparov, Tynystan Asypbekov, Maksat Tazhibek uulu, Zhoodar Buzumov, Zhumabek Turdaliev, Aike Beishekeeva and Akyl Orozbekov will be kept in Bishkek pretrial detention center 1 until March 13. All of them are former or current employees of Temirov Live.
