The Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek arrested activist Zarina Torokulova for two months, until October 30, in the case of calls for mass riots (Part 2 of Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan). This was reported by the Kyrgyz service of Radio Liberty (Radio Azattyk) with reference to the press service of the court.
Torokulova, as Radio Azattyk clarifies, will be kept in the detention center of the State Committee for National Security. The State Committee for National Security noted that the reason for the arrest of the activist was that she “systematically published provocative materials that fall under the article on mass riots.”
Earlier, the Kyrgyz publication 24.kg wrote that Torokulova was detained by State Committee for National Security officers on Monday, September 11. Her lawyer and relatives have not yet commented on the situation.
Zarina Torokulova is an active user of social networks and is known as a critic of the authorities.
In August, security forces detained the writer and government critic Olzhabai Shakir in Kyrgyzstan. He was accused of organizing mass riots and attempting to seize power and was sent to pre-trial detention for two months. Previously, Shakir sharply criticized the government of Kyrgyzstan and called for a peaceful rally against the decision of the country’s leadership to transfer four boarding houses in Issyk-Kul to Uzbekistan.
Kyrgyz security forces often persecute activists who disagree with the decisions of the country’s authorities. Thus, in October 2022, State Committee for National Security officers detained more than 20 politicians and activists who opposed the transfer of the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan. A case was opened against them for preparing for mass riots.
