Kyrgyzstan Urged to Release Journalist Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy and Overturn Conviction
Kyrgyzstan is facing international pressure to release journalist Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy and overturn her wrongful conviction. The Supreme Court is set to review her case on February 2, following a petition filed by her defense team. This petition calls for a complete re-examination of her situation, aiming for her immediate release.
UN Findings on Arbitrary Detention
A legal opinion issued by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in October 2025 found Tazhibek-kyzy’s detention to be arbitrary. The group stated that her imprisonment violated various international human rights laws. It highlighted that her arrest stemmed from her lawful exercise of free expression.
Amnesty International’s Statement
Marie Struthers, the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director at Amnesty International, emphasized the urgent choice facing Kyrgyz authorities. She stated, “The Kyrgyzstani authorities now have a clear and unavoidable choice: uphold their international human rights obligations or continue to defy them.”
- The UN has called for the quashing of Tazhibek-kyzy’s conviction.
- She should be released and compensated for the violations she experienced.
Struthers noted that Tazhibek-kyzy’s ongoing detention sends a troubling message to independent journalists in Kyrgyzstan. It implies that reporting on corruption and human rights abuses comes at the expense of freedom.
Background of the Case
Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy was arrested on January 16, 2024, alongside ten colleagues. They faced charges of “calls for mass disorder,” which were linked to their work with the investigative media projects, Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese.
Following a trial that did not adhere to international fair trial standards, she was sentenced to six years in prison on October 10, 2024. The conviction was upheld by appeal courts, which has drawn criticism for the lack of due process.
Call for Justice
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing represents a crucial opportunity for justice in Tazhibek-kyzy’s case. It serves as a test of Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to international law and its own constitutional principles.
