Representatives of the media community spoke up for the publicist Olzhobai Shakir, who was placed in the pre-trial detention center of the State Committee for National Security for two months by the decision of the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek. He is accused of calls for active disobedience to the legitimate demands of government officials and riots.

Journalists are outraged by the arrest of the publicist. They prepared a statement. It says that Olzhobai Shakir’s «crime» is that he, on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, called on Kyrgyzstanis to participate in a peaceful rally on August 31 against the transfer of four resorts to Uzbekistan, and also demand a report from the authorities to the people.

«The Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrined the rights of the Kyrgyzstanis to freedom of expression and to freedom of peaceful assembly. But law enforcement agencies interpret the legitimate demands of citizens as «provocative publications containing calls for active disobedience to the legitimate demands of government officials and riots.» Detention and placement in detention centers are applied to those citizens who demand transparency and accountability of the authorities and criticize the authorities for mistakes. No sanctions are applied to those who threaten to set fire to independent media. As you know, several rallies were organized in Kyrgyzstan against independent media: Azattyk, Kaktus, Kloop, at which there were calls not only to close the media outlets, but even to set them on fire. For example, in October 2022, a protester threatened to douse the Azattyk office building with gasoline and set it on fire. The same person threatened the journalists of Azattyk, Kloop and Kaktus. However, no criminal case has been initiated against him and he has not been held accountable,» media representatives stressed.

The authorities have turned the law into a punitive tool against journalists, human rights activists, civil activists, so that citizens do not ask uncomfortable questions and do not demand that the authorities fulfill their obligations to the people.

From a statement by members of the media community

Representatives of the media and civil society are outraged by the actions of the authorities. They demand to close the absurd case against Olzhobai Shakir, to drop all charges, and release him.

«We also demand from the authorities to comply with the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly,» journalists and bloggers say.

Recall, the journalist Olzhobai Shakir was detained by employees of the State Committee for National Security on August 23. He is accused of calling for active disobedience to law enforcement officers, riots and an attempt to seize power.

Earlier, Olzhobai Shakir called on citizens to hold a rally. He intended to organize a protest on August 31. The journalist said that he was against transfer of four resorts in Issyk-Kul region to Uzbekistan.