Man Attempts Self-Immolation in Kempir-Abad Case
Bishkek – 08 June 2024
Nurlan Asanbekov, a defendant in the Kempir-Abad case, recently attempted to commit self-immolation, as reported by Human Rights Activist Aziza Abdirasulova in a video posted on Facebook.
According to Abdirasulova, Asanbekov fell ill during yesterday’s trial. He had recently undergone a complicated surgery and was taken from the courtroom to the hospital. However, the police later arrived at the hospital demanding that doctors discharge Asanbekov. Feeling helpless and seeing no other way to fight against what he perceived as injustice, Asanbekov doused himself with gasoline in an attempt to burn himself. Thankfully, he was eventually persuaded not to go through with it.
Currently, Nurlan Asanbekov is under house arrest.
The Committee for the protection of the Kempir-Abad reservoir was established on October 22, 2022, consisting of activists, politicians, and Members of Parliament. Following its establishment, mass arrests were carried out on October 23, resulting in 27 individuals being jailed on charges of preparing for riots. As of now, 8 individuals remain in custody.
Various international human rights organizations, including the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), Freedom Now, and others, have issued a joint statement urging for the immediate release of the politicians and activists who have been arrested in Kyrgyzstan.
