The situation escalated after the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Tajibek kyzy's arrest was arbitrary and violated international law.
Case Circumstances
On January 16, 2024, a mass detention of 11 individuals associated with the journalistic initiatives Temirov Live and "Ayt, ait dese" occurred in Kyrgyzstan. These journalists were accused of "calls for mass unrest" in connection with their professional activities.On October 10, 2024, the Lenin District Court of Bishkek sentenced Mahabat Tajibek kyzy to six years of imprisonment.
On December 18, 2024, the Bishkek City Court upheld this decision.
On February 25, 2025, the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic left the sentence unchanged.
Despite the fact that Mahabat Tajibek kyzy is the mother of a minor child, the court denied her request for a deferral of the sentence, despite the possibility of such a deferral under the country's legislation.
UN Opinion
Human rights organizations draw attention to the findings of the UN Working Group, which noted that Kyrgyzstan violated seven articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and six articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.The Working Group concluded that the arrest and imprisonment of Mahabat Tajibek kyzy were a result of her lawful exercise of freedom of speech, journalistic activities, and anti-corruption investigations.
The UN Working Group called for:
- the immediate release of Mahabat Tajibek kyzy;
- compensation for unlawful imprisonment;
- an investigation into the actions of officials involved in her arrest.
Date and Time of the Hearing:
- Date: February 2, 2025.
- Time: 10:00 AM.
- Location: Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek (Toktobolota Abdumomunova St., 205).
Attracting international attention to this case is an important aspect for ensuring a fair trial and upholding Kyrgyzstan's commitments in the field of human rights and freedom of speech, human rights defenders note.
