In a striking event, Kyrgyz authorities detained human rights defender Rita Karasartova for 48 hours, citing alleged links to a criminal case. This occurred on April 14, 2025, in Bishkek, where a hearing to discuss extending her detention is scheduled. Her arrest appears to relate to her publication of a letter from Tilekmat Kurenov, a civil society activist feared missing, raising concerns about her treatment as a target for voicing dissent.
Karasartova’s daughter reported a chaotic scene, with approximately 12 police officers, three of whom were masked and armed, searching their home without a warrant during her mother’s detention. Karasartova was apprehended while at a shopping mall, unaware of the search at her residence. Currently, she is being held at the Chuy regional police headquarters in Bishkek.
The letter she shared was from Kurenov, a central figure in an ongoing investigation into opposition activists, who has been missing since April 10 after a failed extradition attempt from the UAE. Human Rights Watch notes that the authorities’ interrogation of Karasartova centred on her relationship with Kurenov and her opposition to the government, raising alarms over political repression.
The State Committee on National Security had recently announced a supposed plot to seize power, implicating Kurenov and alleging plans to incite unrest based on “ethno-nationalist grounds.” Alongside Karasartova’s arrest, two other individuals were detained on similar suspicions.
Notably, Karasartova had previously been detained during mass arrests of activists protesting the Kempir-Abad dam transfer in October 2022, having spent eight months in pretrial detention. Despite being acquitted in June 2024, her saga illustrates the intense scrutiny faced by dissenters in Kyrgyzstan, highlighting a troubling trend of silencing journalists and civil rights defenders.
In light of these developments, international partners must call for Karasartova’s immediate release and insist on accountability for Kurenov’s situation. The European Union should now hold Kyrgyz authorities to their commitments made during the recent EU-Central Asia Summit to uphold human rights and foster civic space.
Syinat Sultanalieva from Human Rights Watch commented on the situation, emphasising that “Kyrgyz authorities should uphold their international human rights obligations and release Karasartova immediately”. As the narrative unfurls, it’s vital that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fiercely protected in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz authorities detained human rights defender Rita Karasartova, linking her to a criminal case due to her connection with missing activist Tilekmat Kurenov. Her apprehension reflects a broader trend of repression against dissenters, with calls for immediate release and protection of human rights by international bodies following her arrest and the ominous ongoing situation regarding Kurenov’s disappearance.
In summary, Rita Karasartova’s detention underscores a concerning trend of political repression in Kyrgyzstan, where authorities silence dissenters under the guise of criminal investigations. Her situation, along with the ongoing case of Tilekmat Kurenov, illuminates the peril faced by human rights defenders in the region. It’s imperative that international bodies advocate for Karasartova’s release and demand due process for Kurenov, holding the Kyrgyz government accountable for their commitments to human rights.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
