Kyrgyzstan: Journalists sentenced to years in prison

On October 10, the Leninskiy District Court in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek sentenced two journalists to over five years in prison each for their alleged role promoting 'mass unrest'. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the harsh sentencing of both journalists as both a clear violation of press freedom and an attempt to silence critical voices in Kyrgyzstan.

Temirov Live media journalists Makhabat Tazhibek (2L) and Azamat Ishenbekov (2R) were sentenced to six and five years in prison respectively by the Leninskiy District Court in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek on October 10. Credit: X

On October 10, Judge Kylychbek Istamkulov of the Leninskiy District Court sentenced journalists Makhabat Tazhibek and Azamat Ishenbekov from the independent local media outlet Temirov Live, to six and five years in prison respectively. Their lawyer, Ulan Seyitbekov, has announced plans to appeal this verdict in the Bishkek City Court.

This sentencing comes nine months after Kyrgyz authorities arrested Tazhibek and Ishenbekov on January 16, 2024, along with nine other journalists from Temriov Live. The arrests were linked to a video report published by Temirov Live and its affiliated channel 'Ait Ait Dese', which alleged high-level government corruption. All eleven journalists were charged under Article 278.3 of the Criminal Code for incitement to mass riots and violence against citizens.

The court found the journalists guilty of "calling for mass unrest" based on their investigative work, a criminal offence under Part 2 of Article 41 and Part 3 of Article 278 of Kyrgyzstan's Criminal Code. In addition to Tazhibek and Ishenbekov, journalists Aktilek Kaparov and Ayke Beyshekeeva received three-year probation sentences, while the remaining seven were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

Temirov Live, a YouTube-based outlet founded in 2022 by Bolot Temirov - who was expelled from Kyrgyzstan in 2022 - is now led by his wife, Tazhibek kyzy, one of the journalists sentenced last week.

The sentencing is a part of a broader crackdown on media freedom in Kyrgyzstan. On July 16, 2024, the Judicial Board of the Supreme Court for Civil and Economic Cases in Kyrgyzstan upheld the Oktyabrskiy District Court of Bishkek's decision to close the human rights media outlet Kloop Media (Kloop). This ruling is final and cannot be appealed, taking effect immediately upon its announcement.

The IFJ said:"This ruling will not only silence important media work, but undermine the very foundation of free expression in Kyrgyzstan. In a context where critical or anti-corruption can result in a criminal conviction, press freedom is severely limited. All charges must be withdrawn against these journalists immediately."