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In Bishkek at present, Kyrgyz investigative journalist Bolot Temirov, who confronted as much as 20 years in jail on a collection of fees, was acquitted on most of them.
The choose declared that the investigation towards him was prejudiced and located him not responsible of drug possession, illegally acquiring a passport, and illegally crossing the border.
Temirov was discovered responsible of forging official paperwork in 2008, however he didn’t obtain a sentence as a result of the statute of limitations had expired.
About 150 journalists and activists held a peaceable protest in help of Temirov in entrance of the courthouse. After the decision was introduced, they greeted him with cheers.
“The choose stated that the case was constructed to convict me,” stated Temirov. “He noticed that the case was launched towards me purposefully. However that gained’t be handled on this trial. Our subsequent step is to carry these officers accountable.”
Temirov and the prosecutor’s workplace each have one month to enchantment the choice, nevertheless it’s not identified but if both facet will.
Temirov is the co-founder and head of the media outlet Temirov LIVE, which publishes investigations into high-level corruption in Kyrgyzstan. He was arrested this January when police raided his workplace and claimed to search out medicine in his again pocket. Temirov and his supporters say the medicine had been planted.
The arrest occurred only a day after Temirov LIVE revealed an investigation into the enterprise dealings of the household of Kamchybek Tashiev, the highly effective head of the GKNB nationwide safety company and a long-time ally of the Kyrgyz president.
After his launch underneath home arrest, Temirov continued his investigative work and authorities later added three extra fees. They accused Temirov, who, like many in Kyrgyzstan, can be a citizen of Russia, of falsifying paperwork to obtain his home and worldwide Kyrgyz passports. Based mostly on that declare, in addition they charged him with unlawful border crossing when he traveled overseas.
A month later, an inside ministry investigator annulled Temirov’s passports.
OCCRP investigations counsel Temirov’s prosecution was a deliberate concentrating on of an outspoken journalist, together with by the GKNB. His preliminary arrest was preceded by months of surveillance and harassment directed at Temirov and his workforce.
GKNB head Tashiev denies his company’s involvement. However Temirov was not the one outspoken journalist to be focused by the present authorities.
Final week, Taalai Duishenbiev, the top of opposition media outlet Subsequent TV, was discovered responsible on fees of inciting ethnic hatred and sentenced to 3 years of probation.
He was arrested by the GKNB this March after Subsequent TV revealed on social media an announcement made by a former Kazakh safety official suggesting that Kyrgyzstan was ready to help Russia militarily within the struggle in Ukraine. The court docket declared this put up extremist.
On August 14, police arrested Yrys Zhekshenaliev for allegedly calling for civil unrest. On his Fb web page, the 19-year-old activist had reposted an outdated video through which a former GKNB head expressed opposition to the event of an iron ore deposit which the Kyrgyz president had advised exploring.
The previous GKNB head was additionally interrogated by the police, however later launched. Zhekshenaliev stays underneath arrest the place his well being is worsening.
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