New York, May 13, 2020 – In response to today’s decision by Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court to uphold journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov’s life sentence and deny his final appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:
This year, the Islamic month of Ramadan, which started on April 24 and will continue through May 23, is particularly challenging for Muslim journalists in jail to observe safely, their family members and friends told CPJ.
CPJ and 23 other members of IFEX, a global network of free expression organizations, sent a letter yesterday expressing concern over the press freedom implications of Kyrgyzstan’s COVID-19 state of emergency, which has been in place since March 22.
CPJ today joined eight other human rights and press freedom organizations to call for the immediate release of journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov, who has been serving a life sentence in retaliation for his reporting since June 2010.
New York, January 9, 2020 — Kyrgyzstan authorities should conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the assault of journalist Bolot Temirov and ensure that reporters can cover corruption allegations without fearing for their safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
CPJ and four other international organizations today sent a letter to Kyrgyzstan authorities demanding they stop harassing local journalists who have covered alleged official corruption, and urging authorities to investigate threats and attacks against journalists.
Washington, D.C., October 3, 2019 — Kyrgyzstan should conduct an open and thorough reinvestigation into the killing of journalist Alisher Saipov, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.