alisher-saipov

New York, October 22, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kyrgyz authorities to make public the findings of their investigation into the murder of Alisher Saipov, left, the editor of the Uzbek-language newspaper Siyosat, who was shot in Osh two years ago. Continued impunity in the killing, which occurred in early evening in the city’s downtown district, has fostered fear among his colleagues and undermined trust in the government’s ability to enforce the law.

In response to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Dmitry Fedorov's announcement today about the progress of the official Kyrgyz investigation into the October 2007 murder of ethnic Uzbek journalist Alisher Saipov, we released the following statement...

Alisher Saipov, a 26-year-old independent editor, was brutally silenced on October 24, 2007. An unidentified killer fired at him three times, using a Makarov pistol, in his hometown of Osh, Kyrgyzstan. 

New York, April 10, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the Kyrgyzstan authorities’ closure of the investigation into the October murder of Alisher Saipov, editor of the independent Uzbek-language weekly Siyosat (Politics). This is the second time authorities have officially closed the investigation in as many months.

New York, April 10, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the Kyrgyzstan authorities’ closure of the investigation into the October murder of Alisher Saipov, editor of the independent Uzbek-language weekly Siyosat (Politics). This is the second time authorities have officially closed the investigation in as many months.

February 22, 2008

His Excellency Kurmanbek Bakiyev
President of Kyrgyzstan
Dom Pravitelstva
Bishkek 720003
Kyrgyzstan

Via facsimile: + 996 (312) 62 7072 and +996 (312) 21 8627

Dear Mr. President,

The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the lack of progress in the investigation into the October assassination of Alisher Saipov, editor of the independent Uzbek-language weekly Siyosat (Politics). Four months after this brazen crime, Kyrgyz officials in charge of the probe announced--amid conflicting press reports--that the investigation was suspended. The Saipov family was not informed of the suspension in time to seek reconsideration.

One prominent editor was slain and other journalists faced escalating government harassment, violent attacks, and lawlessness amid intense political rivalry between President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and opposition parties in parliament. In the face of recurring protests, Bakiyev periodically made political concessions to the opposition, only to withdraw or undermine the agreements after demonstrators had gone home. Seemingly focused on political obfuscation, the administration was unable to effectively tackle widespread crime, corruption, and poverty, and Bakiyev became steadily more reliant on authoritarian policies to keep the upper hand with opposition parties, civil society activists, and independent journalists.

In power for nearly two decades, President Islam Karimov had little trouble securing another seven-year term in office. He faced three candidates but no genuine opposition in a December election that international observers said was neither free nor fair. Though constitutional term limits seemed to constrain the president from seeking re-election at all, the Central Election Commission cleared Karimov for another run without bothering to explain its reasoning. Throughout, the regime continued to suppress dissent and independent voices.

Journalist Deaths Hit Decade Peak
Half in Iraq; record number in Somalia