The Chairman of the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan, Zamirbek Bazarbekov, expressed his opinion in an interview with the "Kabar" news agency, stating that the detainees themselves are to blame for the prolonged legal process. He mentioned that there is information about ongoing actions in villages and highlighted that the delays in court proceedings are primarily caused by the detainees themselves.
Bazarbekov emphasized the court's interest in ensuring that cases go through the district court promptly and stated that there is no intention to prolong the process or keep them in custody unnecessarily. He mentioned that the investigation lasted several months and the criminal case is extensive, consisting of 60 volumes.
Furthermore, Bazarbekov pointed out instances where the detainees or their lawyers were responsible for the delays. He cited examples where lawyers did not show up for hearings, detainees fell ill or intentionally did not send their lawyers, or disruptions occurred in court. He emphasized that the detainees themselves are primarily at fault for prolonging the process.
Additionally, Bazarbekov highlighted that there have been 20 adjournments due to the demands of the defendants and their lawyers, which is an official fact. He expressed confusion as to why the detainees are dragging out the process, especially when the case has been under consideration for eight months.
On October 22, 2022, a committee supporting the Kempir-Abad reservoir was established, comprising activists, politicians, and parliamentarians. Following this, mass arrests began on October 23, with 27 individuals being detained on charges of preparing for mass unrest. Currently, 10 people 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.
