In the appeal, attention is drawn to the fact that the issue at hand concerns not the essence of the charges brought, but a procedural question — regarding the acceptance of the petition for consideration. This step will be crucial for the possibility of reviewing the case in light of new data.
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The Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic will consider the petition in the case of journalist Mahabat Tajibek kyzy
The defense's appeal is based on the conclusion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which recognized the journalist's arrest as arbitrary and inconsistent with Kyrgyzstan's international obligations. The document outlines violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and emphasizes the connection between the criminal prosecution and Tajibek kyzy's professional activities.
The platform emphasized that the international legal assessment is a new and important aspect that should be taken into account by the courts when deciding on the issue of reviewing the case. The appeal also expresses a request to the Supreme Court to ensure the objectivity and transparency of the process. Furthermore, the humanitarian aspect is mentioned, as the journalist is a mother of a minor child.
The organization noted that the acceptance of the petition for consideration does not predetermine the final decision, but ensures the right to a fair trial. They expressed their readiness to continue monitoring processes related to the rights of journalists and freedom of speech.
It should be noted that on January 16, 2024, mass arrests occurred in Kyrgyzstan, during which 11 people associated with the journalistic projects Temirov LIVE and "Ayt, Ayt dese" were detained. Journalists were accused of "inciting mass riots" based on their professional activities.
On October 10, 2024, the Lenin District Court of Bishkek sentenced Mahabat Tajibek kyzy, the head of Temirov LIVE, to 6 years in prison.
On December 18, 2024, the Bishkek City Court upheld this conviction.
On February 25, 2025, the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan left the sentence unchanged.
