Ermek Attokurov

Affiliated media: Independent journalist

Incident date: February 9, 2024

Attack type:

• House arrest

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Azattyk.org

Location: Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Additional information:

Journalist Ermek Attokurov, suspected of extortion, was sent under house arrest. The decision was made by the Sverdlovsky District Court of Bishkek. Earlier, the Department of Internal Affairs of the Chüy Region in the centre of Kyrgyzstan said it had detained and placed in temporary custody the journalist and another citizen who allegedly extorted KGS 1 million (about USD 9,000) from a law enforcement official. A criminal case was opened under Article 208 (extortion) of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. Attokurov criticised local authorities on his Facebook page. The day before his detention, he wrote that the police were «preparing a provocation» against him.