Human Rights Activists Demand Release of Kempir-Abad Detainees
Several international human rights organizations, including the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, International Partnership for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, People in Need, Civil Rights Defenders, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Freedom Now, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), have come together to issue a joint statement calling on Kyrgyzstan’s authorities to drop politically motivated charges and release defendants in the Kempir-Abad case.
The prosecutors in the case have requested 20-year sentences for a group of government critics, which the human rights activists are condemning as a shocking miscarriage of justice. The defendants have been arbitrarily arrested and some have already spent up to 19 months in pretrial detention.
The trial has been held behind closed doors, violating the defendants’ right to a fair and public hearing as guaranteed by international standards. There have been instances of hearings held without defense lawyers present and defense motions being rejected.
The human rights organizations are calling for the unconditional release of the defendants and for Kyrgyzstan’s international partners to demand justice and accountability for those responsible for the violations of their rights. They are urging the authorities to end their crackdown on free speech and fundamental freedoms in the country and to uphold human rights in line with international obligations.
The Kempir-Abad case is taking place amidst a worsening civic space in Kyrgyzstan, with civil liberties facing unprecedented pressure. It is crucial for the authorities to take meaningful measures to safeguard human rights and ensure justice for all individuals in the country.
