In a 23 March 2000 letter to President Askar Akayev, CPJ expressed its deep concern over the recent arrest of veteran journalist Aziza Abdrasulova and the continued legal harassment of her newspaper, the Bishkek daily “Res Publika”. CPJ believes that the arrest is part of an intimidation campaign being mounted by the Kyrgyz government against […]
In a 23 March 2000 letter to President Askar Akayev, CPJ expressed its deep concern over the recent arrest of veteran journalist Aziza Abdrasulova and the continued legal harassment of her newspaper, the Bishkek daily “Res Publika”. CPJ believes that the arrest is part of an intimidation campaign being mounted by the Kyrgyz government against independent media during the run-up to parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan.
At 7:00 p.m. (local time) on 16 March, representatives from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Abdrasulova in her Bishkek apartment. She was charged with “participating in an unsanctioned meeting” under Article 352 of the Administrative Code. Earlier that day, Abdrasulova had covered a peaceful rally outside the Pervomai Court building in Bishkek. Demonstrators had gathered to protest alleged fraud in the 12 March parliamentary run-off elections in the Kara-Bura district of the northern Talas region of Kyrgyzstan, and the detention of several opposition candidates.
Even though Abdrasulova was covering the demonstration as a journalist, she was arrested and detained along with the organisers of the protest. According to CPJ’s sources, Abdrasulova was forced to undergo a humiliating strip search by male police officers, was detained without food or heat, and was denied the right to legal counsel.
Following an all-night trial, during which she was also denied the right to defend herself, Abdrasulova was released at 5:00 a.m. (local time) on 18 March, after paying a fine of 1000 soms (approx. US$20).
Abdrasulova and her newspaper have faced concerted legal harassment in recent months. On 16 January, the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan upheld an earlier appeals court verdict that “Res Publika” had violated the “honor and dignity” of Amanbek Karypkulov, president of the National Radio and Television Corporation, by publishing an open letter from the television company’s employees that called for Karypkulov’s dismissal. The court ruled that “Res Publika” must pay a fine of 200,000 soms (approx. US$4,200). And on 12 March, four days before she was arrested, police detained Abdrasulova for over three hours after she attempted to canvas voters’ opinions about the election process.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– condemning the recent arrest of Abdrasulova, along with the continued harassment of “Res Publica” and other independent Kyrgyz media
– stating that you believe that such abuses indicate his government’s desire to discourage independent press coverage of opposition parties during the parliamentary election campaign
– expressing your fear that this crackdown on independent media will only intensify as the December 2000 presidential election approaches
– urging him to ensure that his government refrains from harassing the local press, so that journalists in Kyrgyzstan may exercise their internationally-recognised right to inform the public about all political points of view, including those of the opposition
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Askar Akayev
President of Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Fax: +7 3312 218 627
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
