Bolot Temirov claimed on Facebook that Mahabat Tajibek and her cellmate were allegedly beaten by penitentiary officers, but the Correctional Service denied the allegations, stating that no physical violence occurred. The incident arose when authorities attempted to transfer Tajibek's cellmate to another cell, which they both opposed. A verbal altercation ensued, but according to the Correctional Service, no beating took place.
On January 16th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted a search at the office of Temirov Live, seizing editorial equipment. Subsequently, 11 current and former employees of the publication were detained. The Ministry stated that a criminal case under Article 278 "Incitement to Mass Disorder" was initiated following a forensic linguistic analysis of content on Temirov Live and "Ayt Ayt Dese" social media pages on December 30, 2023.
Those detained, including Mahabat Tajibek, Sapar Akunbekov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliyev, Aktilek Kaparov, Tynystan Asypbekov, Maxat Tajibek Uulu, Joodar Buzumov, Zumabek Turdaliyev, Aike Beishekeeva, and Akyl Orozbekov, are former or current Temirov Live employees. They were all remanded in custody for two months until March 13, spending nearly two weeks in temporary detention facilities before being transferred to pre-trial detention.
The court extended the detention until May 13 for eight of the journalists: Mahabat Tajibek, Aike Beishekeeva, Aktilek Kaparov, Joodar Buzumov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliyev, Maxat Tajibek Uulu, and Tynystan Asypbekov.
