On March 10, the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic overturned the sentence handed down to journalist Mahabat Tajibek kyzy and initiated a retrial of her case. This decision received a positive response from international human rights organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Gulnoza Said, CPJ's representative for Europe and Central Asia, noted: “We emphasize the importance of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the sentence of Mahabat Tajibek kyzy. This is a significant step towards restoring justice and protecting press freedom.”
The case of Tajibek kyzy attracted the attention of the international community, which repeatedly called on the Kyrgyz authorities to review the verdict.
CPJ expressed hope that the court's decision would allow for a fair hearing. The organization called for the protection of media freedom and an end to pressure on independent journalists in the country.
Mahabat's story began with her detention in January 2024, when she and ten employees of Temirov Live were accused of inciting mass riots.
On February 25, 2025, the Supreme Court reviewed the appeal of three of the eleven detained journalists, but the previous court's decision remained unchanged: Mahabat Tajibek kyzy was sentenced to six years in prison, Azamat Ishenbekov received five years, while Aike Beishikeyeva and Aktilek Kaparov were given three years of probation each. The other seven defendants in the case were acquitted due to lack of evidence of a crime.
In 2026, Mahabat's lawyers filed a petition to reopen the case based on newly discovered circumstances.
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