Human Rights Committee Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

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…