Kyrgyzstan Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

Turkey’s crackdown propels number of journalists in jail worldwide to record high

December 13, 2016 12:00 AM EST

At least 81 journalists are imprisoned in Turkey, all of them facing anti-state charges, in the wake of an unprecedented crackdown that has included the shuttering of more than 100 news outlets. The 259 journalists in jail worldwide is the highest number recorded since 1990. A CPJ special report by Elana Beiser

Journalist Azimjon Askarov has been imprisoned in Kyrgyzstan since 2010 on trumped-up charges. Photo provided by Askarov's family.

Retrial of Azimjon Askarov to begin in Kyrgyzstan

October 3, 2016 5:47 PM EDT

New York, October 3, 2016–Kyrgyz authorities should fully abide by the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s calls to immediately release Azimjon Askarov, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Kyrgyz Supreme Court leaves Azimjon Askarov in jail

July 12, 2016 1:27 PM EDT

New York, July 12, 2016 – Kyrgyz prosecutors should drop all charges against Azimjon Askarov and ensure the journalist’s immediate release, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

CPJ calls on Merkel to use Kyrgyzstan visit to secure Askarov’s release

July 8, 2016 3:02 PM EDT

CPJ calls on German Chancellor Angela Merkel to use her upcoming visit to Kyrgyzstan to call on officials there to release the imprisoned journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov. The U.N. Human Rights Committee found in April 2016 that Kyrgyzstan is obligated to free Askarov, quash his conviction, and pay him compensation for unjust imprisonment. Chancellor Merkel is scheduled to visit Kyrgyzstan on July 13 and 14.

CPJ joins call for Kyrgyzstan to release jailed journalist Azimjon Askarov

July 8, 2016 10:05 AM EDT

On July 11, the Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court will hear a petition for the release of Azimjon Askarov, a journalist and human rights defender who is serving a life sentence in prison. This week, CPJ and Human Rights Watch jointly called on Kyrgyzstan authorities to fully abide by an April 21 ruling by the U.N. Human…

CPJ urges Kyrgyzstan to release Azimjon Askarov

April 25, 2016 12:12 PM EDT

New York, April 25, 2016–Kyrgyz authorities should immediately and fully comply with the U.N. Human Rights Committee’s calls to free imprisoned journalist Azimjon Askarov, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court announced in a statement on its website today that if Askarov requests a review of his case, the Kyrgyz constitution obliges…

A human rights body has called for the release of Azimjon Askarov, pictured with bruising caused while in custody. A report found his arrest and trial unjust and evidence that the journalist was tortured. (Nurbek Toktakunov)

Kyrgyzstan must free jailed journalist Azimjon Askarov, UN committee says

April 21, 2016 3:24 PM EDT

In a milestone decision announced today in Geneva, the U.N. Human Rights Committee called on Kyrgyzstan to immediately release Azimjon Askarov, a journalist sentenced to life in prison in September 2010. The U.N. body issued its decision after reviewing a complaint filed in November 2012 by Askarov’s lawyer, Nurbek Toktakunov, and a team of experts…