Askat Zhetigen

Affiliated media: Blogger

Incident date: March 17, 2024

Attack type:

• Administrative arrest, remand, pre-trial detention, prison
• House arrest

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: 24.kg

Location: Kyrgyzstan, Naryn

Additional information:

Blogger and folk storyteller Askat Zhetigen was arrested in the Kochkor district of the Naryn highland region in the central part of the country. State Committee for National Security investigators brought him to Bishkek, detained him for 48 hours, and conducted several interrogations. It is noted that «the State Committee for National Security suspected him of calling for the seizure of power because of his video messages and opened a criminal case in 2022». Earlier, Askat Zhetigen published a video on his Facebook page where he criticised the last interview of President Sadyr Zhaparov. Since 2021, he has been posting various video messages criticising the actions of the current government. In particular, Askat has spoken out against the legalisation of gambling activities, changing the flag of the Kyrgyz Republic, imprisonment of activists, and reforms in the cultural sphere.