Bishkek Main Internal Affairs Department comments on detention of journalist

Journalist Kanyshai Mamyrkulova was placed in a temporary detention facility. The Main Internal Affairs Department of Bishkek reported.

According to the department, she is suspected of inciting ethnic hatred and calling for mass riots.

According to the investigation, Kanyshai Mamyrkulova was spreading false information about the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, which could lead to destabilization of the situation in the country.

It is noted that a forensic linguistic examination confirmed the presence of calls for violence, which became the basis for initiating a criminal case under Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Investigative actions are ongoing to identify other persons involved in similar crimes.

Lawyer Nurbek Sydykov previously reported that Kanyshai Mamyrkulova is accused of «calls for mass unrest» (Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic). She was detained for 48 hours. He noted that law enforcement officers were checking the activist’s publications on social media. The journalist is known for posting critical posts about the government on social media.