The Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch initiative is monitoring the trial of independent Kyrgyz journalist Kanyshai Mamyrkulova, who has been charged with “calling for mass riots” and “inciting interethnic discord” following her critical online comments about a recent Kyrgyz-Tajik border agreement.
Mamyrkulova, a veteran journalist with over 25 years of experience, has been in pre-trial detention since her arrest at home on March 20. According to local reports, she was arrested by police officers posing as potential homebuyers.
TrialWatch has monitored a number of prosecutions under Article 278 of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code, under which Mamyrkulova is charged in this case. In response to a previous TrialWatch petition, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared that the law “fails to meet the rigorous standards” set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“Overly broad legal provisions are routinely misused to target independent journalists in Kyrgyzstan and around the world,” said Kate Levine, Senior Legal Program Manager at TrialWatch. “We will be monitoring to see whether Kyrgyzstan upholds fair trial standards in its proceedings against Mamyrulova.”
The charges under Articles 278(3) of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code carry a potential prison sentence of up to eight years.
Mamyrkulova’s trial was due to begin on May 14, but was delayed when the prosecutor failed to appear. Proceedings began on May 21 in Bishkek with the next hearing scheduled for June 4.
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The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) wages justice by providing free legal aid in defense of free speech and women’s rights in over 40 countries. Its work has led to dozens of journalists being set free and thousands of women receiving free legal support to defend their rights.