In the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek, the measure of restraint for 10 arrested journalists is being considered today. The director of Temirov Live, Mahabat Tajibek kyzy, and Bolot Temirov's wife have been remanded in custody.
The arrest term until May 13 has also been extended for Aike Beishekeeva, Joodar Buzumov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliyev, Maksat Tajibek uulu, and Tynystan Asypbekov.
On January 16, the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted a search in the office of Temirov Live, seizing editorial equipment. The police searched homes and detained 11 current and former employees of the publication.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that following a "forensic-linguistic examination" of the content on the pages of Temirov Live and "Ait Ait Dese" on social networks on December 30, 2023, a criminal case was initiated under Article 278 "Incitement to Mass Riots" of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Those detained were Mahabat Tajibek kyzy, Sapar Akunbekov, Azamat Ishenbekov, Saipidin Sultanaliyev, Aktilek Kaparov, Tynystan Asypbekov, Maksat Tajibek uulu, Joodar Buzumov, Zhumabek Turdaliyev, Aike Beishekeeva, and Akyl Orozbekov.
All of them are former or current employees of Temirov Live. All 11 detained journalists were 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.
Today it was announced that Sapar Akunbekov has been released to house arrest.
