According to her, a law was passed in 2006 that guarantees inmates the right to a 15-minute phone call with relatives once a week. However, she claims that this right is not being upheld. Karasartova emphasized that during her time in SIZO, she repeatedly approached the facility's administrators requesting the opportunity to contact her family.
“Today, February 20, I officially filed a lawsuit in the Administrative Court of Bishkek against the GSIN and SIZO-1. I intend to hold them accountable for inaction,” she stated.
Karasartova noted that the law clearly stipulates that individuals in SIZO can communicate with their relatives by phone in the presence of a staff member. Nevertheless, in her opinion, this right is being ignored. “What distinguishes public servants from ordinary citizens? Their duty to enforce the laws. If a law passed 20 years ago is not working, what is its purpose? As a human rights activist, I wrote for five months but received no response or opportunity to exercise my right. Now, having been released, I have once again approached the GSIN since SIZO is under their management. The Deputy Head of GSIN, Sarchayev, assured the parliament that all inmates communicate with their relatives by phone. But I have been in SIZO twice and have never been able to call my loved ones. Now I am turning to the court to find out why the law that is supposed to be in effect is not being enforced,” she added.
The human rights activist aims to draw attention to this issue for educational purposes, as many people whose relatives are in SIZO may not even be aware of their rights.
“No one thinks that their loved one will ever find themselves in such a situation, but if it happens, people should have the right to talk and learn about the health of their loved ones. For example, in winter, when we were in SIZO, everyone was sick with the flu, and there was no anti-flu medication. Fortunately, at that time, there was a trial for the Kemin residents, and I was able to shout, ‘Anti-flu medication!’ I was passed medicines, and I shared them with others. If detainees had the opportunity to call, they could ask for something necessary, like raspberry jam or anti-flu medication. This happens because SIZO is also a business, and we need to put an end to this,” Karasartova noted.
The editorial team of Kaktus.media has sent a request for comments to the GSIN.
We remind you that in September 2025, Rita Karasartova was convicted under Articles 278 “Mass Riots” and 327 “Public Calls for Violent Seizure of Power” of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, and she was sentenced to five years of probation.
Karasartova also expressed her intention to appeal the city court's decision to the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic.
