(JuHI/IFEX) – The Osh Media Resource Center and Internews-Kyrgyzstan have confirmed the release of Moldosaly Ibrahimov, a journalist from the region of Jalal-Abad, who spent the last five weeks in jail. Ibrahimov was represented by Internews lawyer Shamaral Maychiyev during his appeals hearing in the Oblast Court of Jalal-Abad, on 20 July 2000. He was […]
(JuHI/IFEX) – The Osh Media Resource Center and Internews-Kyrgyzstan have confirmed the release of Moldosaly Ibrahimov, a journalist from the region of Jalal-Abad, who spent the last five weeks in jail. Ibrahimov was represented by Internews lawyer Shamaral Maychiyev during his appeals hearing in the Oblast Court of Jalal-Abad, on 20 July 2000. He was immediately released after the court hearing, and his initial fine of 107,000 KS (US$2,250) was reduced to 10,000 KS (US$210). Ibrahimov had been accused of libel and was imprisoned after the City Court of Jalal-Abad convicted him on 19 June.
The journalist had written an article for the governmental newspaper “Akiykat”, in Jalal-Abad, in which he reported on rumours of an alleged bribe paid to a judge from Suzak during the run-up to parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic earlier this year. One month ago, the newspaper had been ordered to pay a 100,000 KS (US$2,100) fine. Maychiyev also represented the newspaper at the appeals hearing on 20 July, and the June sentence was overruled by the Oblast Court. “Akiykat” editor-in-chief Bakyt Orunbekov thanked Internews and all journalists and organisations who supported journalists in Jalal-Abad over the past month, and expressed his happiness and relief after the 20 July court ruling. Ibrahimov is now back with his family.
JuHI had also sent a protest letter to Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, urging him to do everything in his power to release the journalist.
