British human rights organization Article 19 demands to release Next TV head
The British human rights organization Article 19 made a statement on the case of the CEO of the Next TV channel, Taalaibek Duishenbiev, who has been in custody in the pre-trial detention center of the State Committee for National Security since March 3, 2022 on charges of inciting ethnic hatred.
«Article 19 calls on the Kyrgyz authorities to immediately stop the criminal prosecution of the Next TV director Taalai Duishenbiev and release him from custody, as well as to ensure the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information for independent journalists, media, and civic activists in accordance with the international obligations of the Kyrgyz Republic,» Sarah Clarke, head of the Europe and Central Asia team at Article 19 said.
The statement also says that Kyrgyzstan is ranked 94 out of 161 countries in the 2022 Global Expression Report — Article 19’s annual review of the state of freedom of expression and the right to information around the world.
It should be noted that Duishenbiev’s lawyers also argue that the journalist’s case is contrary to the laws of Kyrgyzstan.
The director of Next TV channel, Taalai Duishenbiev, was detained on March 3 and placed in the pre-trial detention center of the State Committee for National Security for two months.
The Investigative Journalism Foundation calls to end pressure on the media. The Ombudsman asks the SCNS and the judiciary to respect the freedom of journalists.
