Activists are calling for an independent investigation
The authorities of Kyrgyzstan have received a request from the Media Action Platform, in which activists demand a response to the letter from akyn Askat Zhetigen, as well as his protection and the initiation of an independent investigation. This request was sent to key figures, including President Sadyr Japarov, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev, Ombudsman Jamilya Jamangbaeva, Prosecutor General Maksat Asanaliev, head of the State Penitentiary Service Chyngyz Kozhoshev, and Minister of Justice Ayaz Bayetov.
The text of the request includes the following:
Lawyer Nurbek Toktakunov published a letter from Askat Zhetigen, in which he describes facts of possible persecution, torture, and corrupt actions in Institution No. 27 (Moldovanovka village, Chui region).
In his letter, the akyn reports that after a visit by representatives of the Akikatchy (Ombudsman) to the colony where he is held, he was subjected to pressure, including being placed in a punishment isolation cell (PIS) on March 2, 2026, and threats from a prison officer named Ulan.
Additionally, the request mentions possible cases of torture and other forms of cruel treatment, as well as corrupt actions by some employees of the penal system.
The Platform emphasizes that these facts require an immediate, objective, and independent investigation. The investigation should cover not only the situation of Askat Zhetigen but also the overall conditions in Institution No. 27 and, if necessary, in other places of detention.
Considering the potential risks of pressure on the applicant and possible witnesses, activists call for:
1. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, as the guarantor of the rights and freedoms of citizens, to take control of the situation and ensure an urgent, objective, and independent investigation of the facts presented, concerning not only Askat Zhetigen but also other convicts who have faced pressure or cruel treatment for expressing their opinions, filing complaints, and cooperating with oversight bodies.
It is necessary to ensure the safety of the applicant and potential witnesses, and in case of confirmed violations, to hold those responsible accountable in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.
2. The Prosecutor General's Office of the Kyrgyz Republic:
• Register the information presented in the request as grounds for initiating an investigation.
• Conduct a legal assessment of possible signs of official crimes, abuse of power, and obstruction of the right to appeal, as well as possible use of torture or cruel treatment.
• The investigation should be comprehensive and cover not only IK No. 27 but also other institutions where similar facts may have occurred.
3. The Akikatchy (Ombudsman) of the Kyrgyz Republic:
• Organize an unscheduled monitoring visit to Institution No. 27 and, if necessary, to other institutions in the penal system.
• Conduct confidential conversations with Askat Zhetigen and other convicts without the presence of administration.
• Document the conditions of detention and possible signs of pressure or violence.
• Prepare a public conclusion with recommendations for state bodies.
4. The State Penitentiary Service:
• Ensure immediate and unhindered access for the lawyer to Askat Zhetigen and other potential applicants.
• Guarantee the confidentiality of communication with the defender.
• Conduct an independent medical examination documenting the state of health.
• Ensure the preservation of all documentation, including PIS logs, reports, and video recordings.
• Prohibit any measures of influence on the applicant and potential witnesses until the investigation is completed.
During the investigation, consideration should be given to the possibility of suspending the employees mentioned in the request from direct interaction with the applicant and potential witnesses.
5. The Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Cabinet of Ministers:
• Ensure inter-agency coordination and oversight of implementation.
• Conduct a legal assessment of possible facts of illegal collection of funds and other corrupt manifestations.
To prevent reprisals for submitted complaints:
• Create secure channels for submitting complaints (confidential communication with the Ombudsman and the prosecutor's office without the control of the institution's administration).
• Mandatory video recording of key areas and procedures with regulated storage and access protocols.
• Conduct regular unscheduled visits by monitoring groups ensuring complete confidentiality of interviews.
• Establish personal responsibility for the institution's management for any forms of pressure on applicants and witnesses, including coercion to give "convenient" testimonies.
It is essential to emphasize that the freedom of expression and the right to appeal to oversight bodies are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and the country's international obligations. These rights cannot be grounds for worsening the conditions of detention or applying pressure.
Any attempts to punish for the exercise of these rights should be regarded as a serious violation of the law and subject to thorough investigation," noted representatives of the Media Action Platform of Kyrgyzstan.
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