The lawyer claims that the conditions in SHIZO are terrible: the cell is so small that Sultanbekov cannot lie down fully; he has to assume uncomfortable positions on the concrete floor. As Temirlan himself reported, since Saturday at 1:00 PM, he has been in complete darkness and has not received any packages for three days, while the food offered to him is completely inedible. He is offered to collect water from a tap next to the toilet, which forces him to refuse food and water, effectively starving.
Nurbek Toktakunov links such actions by the SIZO administration to the recent statements by the president that prisoners should "endure." He emphasized that no one is obliged to tolerate degrading treatment.
The lawyer also contacted the ombudsman's office to inform them about the consequences of Sultanbekov's complaints. According to him, the office informed him that the ombudsman is currently at an event with the head of the SIZO. Toktakunov expressed hope that the information would be conveyed to the ombudsman and help change the situation.
"What’s the point of contacting the ombudsman if you have to freeze on the concrete floor of the punishment cell?" Toktakunov commented.
It should be noted that on November 23, law enforcement agencies conducted a series of arrests and searches as part of a case regarding calls for mass riots. A criminal case was initiated after a video featuring Temirlan Sultanbekov emerged, prompting the Ministry of Internal Affairs to begin investigative and operational activities.
As part of this case, several political figures and former officials were detained or summoned for questioning, including Kadyrbek Atambaev, Shailoobek Atazov, Syimyk Japykeev, Kubanychbek Kadyrov, and others. Searches were also conducted in the homes of relatives of politicians and journalists, including former First Lady Raisa Atambaev, the family of Temirlan Sultanbekov, and the family of journalist Dmitry Lozhnikov.
It later became known that Temirlan Sultanbekov, Kadyrbek Atambaev, Shailoobek Atazov, and seven others were placed in a temporary detention facility for the selection of a preventive measure. The others, including Adakhan Madumarov and Syimyk Japykeev, were released after questioning.
