A criminal case against Askat Zhetigen Uulu has been filed in the Sverdlovsky District Court of Bishkek. Human rights activist Gulshaiyr Abdirasulova reported this on her Facebook page, citing lawyer Samat Matzakov.
The investigation has charged him with committing crimes under Part 3 of Article 278 and paragraph 1 of Part 2 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code (calls for active disobedience to the legitimate demands of authorities and to mass disorders, as well as calls for violence against citizens and public calls for violent seizure of power using mass media or information and communication networks).
According to the lawyer, he only found out about the appointment of a preliminary hearing for his client the night before. This violates the requirement of Part 3 of Article 279 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, which states that notification of the parties to appear in court should be sent no less than three days before the preliminary hearing. This requirement is intended to allow the parties to prepare for the preliminary hearing, including preparing motions regarding the inadmissibility, termination, or suspension of the criminal case, changing the measure of restraint, and other procedural actions," the lawyer said.
He also noted that the judge of the Sverdlovsky District Court, J. Sulaimanov, his assistant, and secretary have created obstacles by not providing the defense with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the materials of the criminal case. The lawyer was only able to do so on the third attempt, at around 6:30 pm, after the secretary sent a notification of the appointment of the preliminary hearing.
On March 17, the National Security Committee (GKNB) detained performer Askat Zhetigen for criticizing the authorities and initiated a criminal case under the article "Calls for violent seizure of power." He was brought from Naryn to Bishkek and placed in a pre-trial detention center for 48 hours. By the decision of the Pervomaisky District Court of the capital, the performer was released on a written undertaking not to leave.
Askat Zhetigen thanked the people of Kyrgyzstan for their support and stated: "Seeing how brazen the 'ekidos' have become, I cannot remain polite. The people brought them to power hoping that justice and order would be established in the country." He also added that he is willing to take responsibility for his words.
On March 20, the performer was arrested for two months.
