Bolot Temirov’s Case Presented to UN Human Rights Committee
The investigative journalist Bolot Temirov has taken his case to the UN Human Rights Committee after his lawyers filed a complaint detailing numerous violations in his case. Temirov shared on social media that the complaint consists of 47 pages and over 100 points of evidence showcasing violations of his rights, such as the right to a fair trial, citizenship, protection from arbitrary detention, and freedom of expression.
Temirov was initially detained on January 22, 2022, in connection with an investigation into illegal drug production and storage. However, in September of the same year, Judge Akylbek Adimov of the Sverdlovsky District Court in Bishkek issued a verdict acquitting the journalist of the drug possession charges due to lack of clear evidence and bias in the investigation. He was also found not guilty of illegal border crossing as his passport was legitimate.
Despite being acquitted of the drug charges, Temirov was found guilty of using false information to obtain a passport. Specifically, he was charged with using a military ID to acquire an ID card and illegally obtaining the identity card. Nevertheless, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, no punishment was applied, and Temirov was released from the courtroom.
The journalist’s case has garnered attention for the alleged violations of his rights, prompting his legal team to seek review by the UN Human Rights Committee for a fair resolution.
