Representatives of the media platform demand that the President of Kyrgyzstan organize an immediate investigation into the facts related to the abuse and persecution of individuals expressing their opinions and cooperating with regulatory bodies.
Furthermore, the platform has appealed to the akyikatçı (ombudsman) of the Kyrgyz Republic with the request to:
- conduct an unscheduled monitoring visit to institution No. 27, as well as, if necessary, to other penitentiary facilities;
- hold confidential conversations with Askhat Zhetigen and other prisoners without the presence of administration;
- document the conditions of detention and any signs of pressure or violence;
- prepare a public report with recommendations for government agencies.
The full content of the address is available in the attached document.
It should be noted that the ombudsman institution has confirmed the receipt of complaints from Askhat Zhetigen, who is serving his sentence in institution No. 27. In his letter, the poet mentions that on March 2, the head of the operational department of the colony named Ulan placed him in a punishment cell (SHIZO), threatening him with "harsh conditions" and accusing him of inciting among the prisoners. Zhetigen called these accusations "absolute lies," claiming that he has never supported the criminal world.
He views his detention in SHIZO as revenge for informing the ombudsman representatives about violations in the colony. According to him, during a conversation with the inspectors, a colony staff member attempted to prevent the disclosure of the situation, which led to a verbal altercation. In turn, the GSIN denied these accusations, stating that the information about violations and the infringement of the prisoner’s rights is not true.
On March 4, it became known that Askhat Zhetigen was released from SHIZO.
