Kyrgyz Journalist Released From Prison, Faces New Trial Amid Rights Concerns
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Investigative journalist Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy has been released from prison in Kyrgyzstan after more than two years of detention, but remains subject to a travel ban and faces a retrial, prompting concerns from international rights groups.
Tazhibek-kyzy, editor-in-chief of Temirov LIVE, was initially arrested in January 2024 alongside colleagues from Temirov LIVE and Ayt Ayt Dese, independent media projects known for investigating alleged corruption within the country. She and fellow journalist Azamat Ishenbekov were sentenced to six and five years in prison respectively in October 2024 on charges of “inciting mass unrest,” accusations widely considered to be politically motivated.
The Supreme Court overturned Tazhibek-kyzy’s conviction on March 10, ordering a retrial. On March 23, a Bishkek court ordered her release, replacing her imprisonment with a travel restriction. Ishenbekov was released in April 2025 following a presidential pardon.
“While Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy’s release from prison is a long-overdue step towards justice that allows her to reunite with her son, it does not erase the human rights violations she has already endured and those she faces with possible retrial,” said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director.
Amnesty International has condemned the targeting of Tazhibek-kyzy and her colleagues, stating it sends “a chilling message to investigative journalists across the country.” The organization emphasizes that no journalist should be prosecuted for reporting on matters of public interest.
The case highlights a concerning trend of pressure on independent media in Kyrgyzstan. Tazhibek-kyzy’s husband, Bolot Temirov, a prominent investigative journalist himself, was previously stripped of his Kyrgyzstani citizenship and forced into exile.
Struthers urged Kyrgyzstani authorities to “immediately drop all charges and lift the travel ban against Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy, and provide her with an effective remedy for the violations she has already suffered.” She also called on the government to ensure a safe environment for independent journalism and uphold freedom of expression, in line with its international human rights obligations.
