Press Release: Slanderous comments of Kyrgyz President against two leading human rights defenders go unpunished. Decision to be appealed

After a two-day trial heldon September 6 and 7, the Bishkek City Court dismissed the lawsuit brought inappeal by Ms. Tolekan Ismailova, President of Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan andFIDH Vice-President, and Ms. Aziza Abdirasulova, President of KylymShamy, against the Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, in relation to a publicspeech he gave on May 14, 2016, in which he mentioned their names next to thoseof alleged organisers of a political upheaval, promising to ruthlessly suppressany attempts to destabilise the country. In his speech, the President alsoresorted to the “foreign agents” terminology, presenting Ms. Ismailova and Ms.Abdirasulova as heads of NGOs “faithfully serving their financial donors”. Bothdefenders announced their intention to bring the case before the Supreme Court.

The Observatory deploresthat several irregularities occurred during the trial in appeal, as had alreadybeen the case in first instance[1]. Onthe one hand, although Ms. Tolekan Ismailova and Ms. Aziza Abdirasulovarequested several times that documents be added to the case file, the court hassystematically refused to allow them to do so. On the other hand, the courtalso refused several motions filed by Ms. Tolekan Ismailova's and Ms. AzizaAbdirasulova's lawyers, such as those summoning the president to court,requesting video recording of the hearings, and requesting the removal of thejudge from the case for alleged lack of impartiality.

The Observatory calls uponthe Kyrgyz authorities to comply with fair trial standards and equality of armsprinciples in all circumstances, including for the upcoming proceedings beforethe Supreme Court. The Observatory more generally urges the Kyrgyz authoritiesto ensure an enabling environment to all human rights defenders in the countryso they are able to carry out their work without hindrances, and to comply withthe recommendations outlined in the report published on June 8, 2016, which isavailable here.

The Observatory was created in 1997 by FIDHand OMCT. The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedysituations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are bothmembers of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanismimplemented by international civil society.

For more information, please contact:

• FIDH: Arthur Manet / Audrey Couprie: + 33143552518
• OMCT: Delphine Reculeau / Miguel Martín Zumalacárregui: +41228094939

[1] On June 15, 2016 thePervomaysk district Court of Bishkek had already rejected their complaint infirst instance, following a trial marred with a number of irregularities. SeeObservatory Press Release, June 22, 2016.