Judge of the Sverdlovsky District Court of Bishkek Zholdoshbek Sulaimanov sentenced akyn (poet-improviser) Askat Zhetigen to three years in prison. Human rights activist Gulshayir Abdirasulova told 24.kg news agency.
According to her, the akyn was found guilty of public calls for violent seizure of power. He will serve his sentence in a general regime colony.
Askat Zhetigen was acquitted under Article 278 «Mass riots».
Askat Zhetigen uulu himself declared his innocence and said that the examination did not find anything illegal in his statements. The state prosecutor asked eight years in prison for Askat Zhetigen.
On March 17, State Committee for National Security officers detained akyn Askat Zhetigen for criticizing the government and opened a criminal case under the article «Calls for a violent seizure of power.» He was brought from Naryn to Bishkek and placed in a temporary detention facility for 48 hours. By decision of the Pervomaisky District Court, the akyn was released on his own recognizance.
On April 9, Askat Zhetigen appealed to the Ombudsman and the National Center for Prevention of Torture and stated that on March 20, the day he was detained again, he was subjected to torture. He reported that he was tortured with electric shock for about an hour.
