Relatives of those detained in the so-called Kemper-Abad case organized a peaceful protest outside the Pervomaisky Court in Bishkek. They are demanding that the trials be conducted in an open manner. According to them, each hearing violates laws and due process, with demands from lawyers and defendants to adhere to these norms resulting in some defendants being excluded from the process. Conducting hearings without defendants and lawyers is a gross violation of the law.
The relatives emphasize that their sole demand is to conduct open hearings. They question why the authorities do not conduct the process openly if they claim that their relatives are "particularly dangerous criminals." They believe that transparency is essential for a fair trial and suspect that closed-door trials aim to conceal the lack of evidence of their guilt from the public.
In accordance with Article 51 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the participation of a lawyer in criminal proceedings is mandatory when a person is accused of a particularly serious crime. Since the suspects in the Kemper-Abad case are accused of a serious crime, conducting the process without a defense attorney is impossible, as stated by a lawyer. The detainees, who are in custody, have requested clarification on the identities of those escorting them.
On October 22, 2022, a committee supporting the Kemper-Abad reservoir was established, consisting of activists, politicians, and parliamentarians. Mass arrests began on October 23, with 27 individuals detained by the authorities on charges of preparing for mass disorder. Currently, nine individuals remain in custody.
Several international human rights organizations, including the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), "Freedom Now," and others, have repeatedly called for the release of detained politicians and activists in Kyrgyzstan.
