Dozens of media outlets and investigators worldwide have launched a campaign in support of the 11 journalists detained in Kyrgyzstan. They are addressing the Kyrgyz authorities on Twitter under the unified hashtag #FreeKyrgyz11. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has published an article on the situation regarding freedom of speech in Kyrgyzstan, the closure of media outlets, criminal cases, and arrests of journalists and social media users for their publications.
Following their colleagues, other media outlets and journalists have joined the campaign. "Authorities, along with dozens of media outlets worldwide, demand the immediate release of our colleagues in Kyrgyzstan," - journalists from "Vlast.kz" posted a video with this description.
"At the beginning of 2024, Kyrgyzstan authorities detained 11 former and current journalists from Temirov Live, one of the country's most prominent investigative projects. They face 5 to 8 years in prison. How did Kyrgyzstan transform from the freest country in Central Asia to a place where freedom of speech is under attack," - wrote journalists from "Important Stories". Journalists from Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, as well as European countries, have also joined the campaign.
On January 16, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry conducted a search at the Temirov Live office, seizing editorial equipment. The police searched homes and detained 11 current and former employees of the publication. The Interior Ministry stated that following a "judicial-linguistic expertise" of the content on Temirov Live and "Ait Ait Dese" social media pages on December 30, 2023, a criminal case was initiated under Article 278 "Incitement to Mass Riots" of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code.
The detained individuals are Mahabat Tajibek kyzy, Sapar Akunbekov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliyev, Aktilek Kaparov, Tynystan Asypbekov, Maxat Tajibek uulu, Zhoodar Buzumov, Zhumabek Turdaliyev, Aike Beyshenkeeva, and Akyl Orozbekov. All of them are former or current employees of Temirov Live. All 11 detained journalists have been remanded in custody for two months - until March 13. They were held in the Temporary Detention Facility for almost two weeks without being transferred to a pre-trial detention center.
