In a significant joint statement issued by seven human rights organisations, including the Observatory (FIDH-OMCT), there is an urgent call for the immediate release of journalist Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, who has been detained in Kyrgyzstan since January 2024. The authorities are urged to act swiftly to protect her from the death threats she has been receiving from another inmate.
Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, the director of Temirov Live, faces unsubstantiated charges of incitement to mass unrest. Since her imprisonment, she has been harassed and threatened with death by a fellow prisoner. In a desperate plea written in February 2025, she expressed her fears that her life is in danger, detailing horrific threats of poisoning and physical abuse.
Despite the alarming threats, Kyrgyz authorities have denied any risk to Tazhibek Kyzy’s safety and claimed that the inmate responsible for her threats is held in isolation. Tazhibek Kyzy’s husband, Bolot Temirov, fearing for her life, has vehemently asserted that she would not falsely report such serious threats if she did not truly believe her life was in jeopardy.
Moreover, representatives from human rights and torture prevention organisations have conducted visits to the prison, yet their assessments remain worryingly dismissive. They have reported that any previous issues have been resolved, insisting Tazhibek Kyzy has no further complaints, which contradicts her precarious situation within the prison system.
The journalist and several of her colleagues were detained amidst a severe crackdown on independent media, which is becoming alarmingly common in Kyrgyzstan. The charged and politically motivated nature of their sentences has sparked outrage among the human rights community, as it is seen as a blatant act of retaliation against their journalism criticizing government actions.
In Kyrgyzstan, prison conditions are dire, with a disturbing history of torture and neglect that has led to numerous fatalities. Incidents such as the deaths of political prisoners in custody highlight the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure the safety and humane treatment of all inmates, particularly those facing political charges.
The international community, along with the European Union, needs to pressure Kyrgyz authorities to take immediate action to safeguard Tazhibek Kyzy and address the dangerous conditions within their correctional facilities. The call for her protection resonates as a crucial element in the fight for human rights in Kyrgyzstan, a situation demanding global attention.
This article addresses the urgent call by seven human rights organisations to release imprisoned journalist Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, who has faced death threats from a fellow inmate. Despite her pleas for help and serious concerns for her safety, Kyrgyz authorities have dismissed these threats. The case highlights the dire conditions in Kyrgyz prisons and the risks faced by journalists and human rights defenders in the country amid increasing political repression.
The case of Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy illustrates the perilous circumstances faced by journalists and human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan. Amidst threats and harassment, her call for safety resonates deeply across human rights communities. This situation underscores the critical need for international intervention and systemic change within Kyrgyz prisons to protect vulnerable individuals from dangerous environments and politically motivated persecution.
Original Source: www.omct.org
