Rally in support of detained journalist held in Bishkek

Bishkek, Jan. 23, 2022. / Kabar /. A rally in support of the detained journalist Bolot Temirov is held today near the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Bishkek.

The protesters demand the release of Bolot Temirov and claim that his detention is connected with a journalistic investigation into the fuel business of the family of the head of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev in the south of the country.

On Sunday morning Tashiev convened a press conference and said that all Temirov's information about his relatives is a lie, and that he has nothing to do with corruption. The head of the State Committee for National Security also stated that Temirov's detention was not related to his journalistic investigation. "It's purely a drug-related criminal offense, nothing more," he said.

Journalist Bolot Temirov was detained on Saturday after a search was conducted in his office.

Bolot Temirov is accused of illegal production of drugs without intent to sell, according to the Bishkek police department. Reportedly, on January 22, citizen A.A. applied with a request to take action against an unknown person named Bolot, who from October 25, 2021 to the present, with his friends, is inciting her to use drugs. During a search the police found 7.77 grams of hashish in Bolot Temirov’s pocket. In addition, his colleague Bolotbek Nazarov was detained on the street, who had 8.69 grams of hashish with him.

An examination for drug use showed that Bolot Temirov did not use drugs, while traces of drugs were found in Nazarov's blood.

At present, the suspect Bolot Temirov has been released under a written undertaking not to leave the country.