Today, a session was held at the Bishkek City Court, where it was decided to change the sentence of former 'Kloop' operators Alexander Alexandrov and Joomart Doolotov. This information was provided by human rights activist Gulshaiyr Abdirasulova.
The judge reduced the prison sentence from five years to three years of probation, releasing the defendants right in the courtroom.
At the same time, the sentence for the accountants involved in the case remained unchanged — three years of probation.
Previously, Judge Cholponai Umetalieva sentenced Alexandrov and Doolotov to five years in a general regime colony, while the accountants received three years of probation. All defendants were found guilty of inciting riots.
The editorial team of 'Kloop' claimed that the court announced a punishment for five videos to which the operators and accountants had no relation. Journalist Bolot Temirov, who released an investigation on his YouTube channel Temirov Live, emphasized that he is not acquainted with the operators and accountants and has no connection with them. He also added that he creates all the content himself.
Experts who studied the disputed videos found no direct calls for riots in them.
International human rights organizations condemned the guilty verdict, considering it unfounded.
In early October, the journalists' lawyers filed an appeal with the Bishkek City Court against the decision of the Pervomaisky District Court.
Additionally, at the end of October, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Bishkek granted the prosecutor's claim, recognizing the materials of the online publications Temirov Live, 'Kloop Media,' and 'Ait Ait Dese' as extremist.
