The Observatory has been informed about the interrogation of Ms Tolekan Ismailova, human rights defender and Director of the Kyrgyz human rights organisation Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan with two other human right defenders, Bermet Borukeeva and Bulat Satarkulov.
On 13 March 2026, police officers took Ms Tolekan Ismailova, Ms Bermet Borukeeva and Mr Bulat Satarkulov to the Main Department of Internal Affairs of Bishkek for questioning in relation to publications posted on Ms. Ismailova’s personal Facebook account concerning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
According to police authorities, on 12 March 2026, during monitoring of online resources, officers from the department for combating extremism and illegal migration identified a social media account belonging to Ms. Ismailova containing posts on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine interpreted by the authorities as expressing support for Ukraine. However, the investigator’s questions did not only concern the content of the Facebook posts, but also the organization Bir Duino – Kyrgyzstan and its funding. The investigator asked whether her posts containing expressions of support for Ukraine reflected Ms Ismailova’s personal views or this is the position of the organisation Bir Duino, which she heads. The investigator also inquired whether she had received any remuneration for these publications and whether she was aware that such posts could “provoke public resonance and contentious discussions among users.” Ms Ismailova replied that she only expresses her personal views on her page and reaffirmed her anti-war stance, emphasising that she is the daughter of a World War II veteran.
After questioning, which lasted approximately six hours in total, the human rights defenders were released from the police station without charges being brought against them. However, police officers informed Ms Ismailova that the texts of her Facebook posts would be sent for expert examination to determine whether they violate Article 330 of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan (incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or interregional hatred, punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment).
The questioning took place on the same day that Ms Ismailova and other activists had planned to organise a peaceful action titled “Freedom for Peaceful Assemblies of Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic” near the Pervomaisky District Administration building in Bishkek. It seems that the Facebook posts were used as a pretext to intimidate, prevent and detain these individuals of undertaking that planned peaceful assembly.. The action aimed to raise concerns about restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, including existing limitations on demonstrations in Bishkek, which have been repeatedly extended for years.The Observatory views these measures, particularly the summoning activists for questioning immediately ahead of planned peaceful assemblies, as forms of pressure that create a chilling effect and may amount to interference with the right to peaceful protest or even intimidation.
The Observatory further expresses concern that the questioning of Ms Ismailova, particularly in relation to her personal social media posts, constitutes judicial harassment aimed at restricting her right to freedom of expression and intimidating a prominent human rights defender.
The Observatory recalls that Kyrgyzstan, as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of expression (Article 19) and the right to peaceful assembly (Article 21), must ensure that there are no restrictions or obstacles to these freedoms.
The Observatory calls on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to guarantee that Ms Ismailova and all human rights defenders in the country are able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of intimidation or judicial harassment.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of Kyrgyzstan asking them to:
Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Ms Tolekan Ismailova, Ms Bermet Borukeeva, and Mr Bulat Satarkulov, as well as all human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan;
Put an end to all acts of harassment, including judicial harassment, against Ms. Tolekan Ismailova, and ensure that she can carry out her legitimate human rights activities without interference;
Ensure that no criminal charges are brought against Ms. Ismailova for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression, including her personal social media posts;
Guarantee in all circumstances the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in Articles 19 and 21 of the ICCPR, and ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisals, including from foreign state pressure;
Ensure that human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan are able to carry out their activities without any fear of reprisals.
Addresses:
• Mr Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, Email: adskyrgyzstan@gmail.com, X: @SadyrJaparov,
• Mr Adylbek Kasymaliev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Email: contactcenter@tunduk.gov.kg,
• Mr Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Email: secretariat@mvd.kg,
• Mr Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Email: info@mfa.gov.kg; dded@mfa.gov.kg, X: @MFA_Kyrgyzstan,
• Mr Ayaz Baetov, Minister of Justice, Email: isakov@minjust.gov.kg / baetov.a@gmail.com,
• Mr Ruslan Mukambetov, Minister of Defense, Email: op.minoboron@bk.ru,
• Mr Jamilya Jamanbaeva, Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic, Email: akyikatchy@ombudsman.kg,
Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Kyrgyzstan in your respective countries.
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Paris-Geneva, 19 March 2026
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
• E-mail: alert@observatoryfordefenders.org
• Tel FIDH: + 33 1 43 55 25 18
• Tel OMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39
