Ombudsman Addresses Detention of Journalists
Ombudsman in Kyrgyzstan Meets with Relatives of Detained Journalists
The Ombudsperson of Kyrgyzstan, Jamilya Jamanbaeva, recently held a meeting with the relatives of the 11 detained journalists. The Institute of the Ombudsman reported that during the meeting, the citizens expressed their concerns about the violations of the rights of their detained relatives.
According to the relatives, their detained family members are still being held in the temporary detention center, despite the court ordering their transfer to the pre-trial detention center on January 17. They stated that this is a clear violation of their rights. Additionally, the court did not take into account the arguments presented by the journalists’ lawyers when choosing the preventive measure.
Jamanbaeva highlighted that the Ombudsman’s Institute had already visited the temporary detention center the day after the arrest and had a conversation with the detained journalists. She emphasized that the institute is carrying out its work to protect the rights of journalists and has also sent a letter to the Main Internal Affairs Department of Bishkek to demand an explanation for why the journalists have not been transferred to the pre-trial detention center.
The situation arose on January 16 when the office of Temirov Live was searched and editorial equipment was confiscated. Subsequently, the police conducted searches in homes and detained 11 current and former employees of the media outlet.
The Interior Ministry announced that criminal proceedings have been initiated against the journalists under the charge of “calling for riots” as a result of forensic linguistic examination of content found on the social media pages of Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese on December 30. The detained individuals will be kept in Bishkek pretrial detention center 1 until March 13.
The detained journalists, Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy, Sapar Akunbekov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliev, Aktilek Kaparov, Tynystan Asypbekov, Maksat Tazhibek uulu, Zhoodar Buzumov, Zhumabek Turdaliev, Aike Beishekeeva, and Akyl Orozbekov, are all former or current employees of Temirov Live.
