The Bishkek District Court sentenced activist Melis Aspekova to seven years of imprisonment. His son Aaly announced this on his Facebook page. According to him, his father spoke his final words in court, proving that he did not intend to organize any mass riots.
Despite witnesses giving similar testimonies, the court, following a political agenda, sentenced his father to seven years of imprisonment under a strict regime. The court found Melis Aspekova guilty of preparing and organizing mass riots. He positioned himself as a close ally of President Sadyr Japarov.
On March 23, 2022, Melis Aspekova was sentenced to seven years in prison in a general regime colony for extortion and fraud. Disagreeing with the verdict, the activist appealed to the Bishkek City Court. In July of last year, the judicial panel upheld the decision of the First May District Court, reducing the prison term by one year, resulting in a final sentence of six years of imprisonment.
In May 2023, it was announced that Melis Aspekova was released under the Decree of the Head of State "On Pardoning Convicts." However, in September, he was once again detained for two months on charges of preparing and organizing mass riots. The activist was placed in the pre-trial detention center of the capital by the decision of the First May District Court.
