Strazers emphasized that the detention of Mahabat Tajibek kyzy has been deemed unlawful by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which demands the annulment of her sentence and her immediate release, as well as compensation for the suffering endured. "There is no doubt or symbolism in this matter," she added.
Keeping Tajibek kyzy in custody is a serious signal to all independent journalists in Kyrgyzstan: investigating corruption and human rights violations can cost you your freedom. The hearing in the Supreme Court will be an opportunity to confirm that international law and the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan have real power," she noted.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, "Reporters Without Borders," the International Press Institute, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and other organizations also pointed out that the findings of the UN working group highlight the political nature of the persecution of Tajibek kyzy and provide compelling grounds for her urgent release.
The working group established that Tajibek kyzy was convicted for the lawful exercise of her journalistic activities related to investigating corruption and criticizing the authorities, and noted that the Kyrgyz authorities failed to provide specific examples of calls for violence in her publications. This conviction has become part of a "systematic persecution" of independent media, such as Temirov Live, and was linked to the perception of her as a continuation of Bolot Temirov's work," human rights defenders reminded.
They also pointed to the criticism from the UN working group regarding the authorities' abuses of the "vague" Article 278 of the Criminal Code, used to suppress legitimate criticism and persecute independent media.The working group noted that Tajibek kyzy should not have been convicted at all, as her right to a fair trial was violated. She did not have access to a lawyer at the beginning of her arrest, and the lack of justification for the guilty verdict deprived her of the opportunity to appeal the decision. High-ranking officials, including President Sadyr Japarov, violated the presumption of innocence by prematurely declaring her and her colleagues guilty.
In this regard, the working group urged the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to immediately release Tajibek kyzy, grant her the right to compensation, conduct a full and independent investigation into her detention, and take action against those responsible. They also demanded an end to the campaign of intimidation against independent media and the necessary legislative reforms to bring Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic in line with international human rights standards.
It should be noted that Mahabat Tajibek kyzy was detained in January 2024 along with ten employees of Temirov Live and accused of inciting mass riots. On February 25, 2025, the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan reviewed the appeal of three detained journalists and upheld the decision of the first instance court: Mahabat Tajibek kyzy was sentenced to six years in prison, Azamat Ishenbekov received five years, and Aike Beishikeeva was sentenced to three years of probation. The Bishkek City Court also imposed three years of probation on Aktilek Kaparov, who did not contest this decision. The other seven defendants were acquitted due to lack of evidence of a crime.
On February 2, the Supreme Court will consider the defense's petition for Mahabat Tajibek kyzy to reopen the case due to new circumstances, and a procedural decision will be made on this matter.
