Sapar Akunbekov

Affiliated media: YouTube channel Temirov Live, YouTube channel ARCHA MEDIA, Investigative journalist

Incident date: January 16, 2024

Attack type:

• Criminal/administrative prosecution excluding (1), (2) and (3)

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: kloop.kg

Location: Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Additional information:

On January 17, the Pervomaysky District Court of Bishkek imposed a preventive measure for 11 former and current employees of the project Temirov Live. Like other journalists, Akunbekov was detained, arrested, placed in a temporary detention centre and then in a pre-trial detention centre. He was previously a member of the Temirov Live team and is currently the author of investigative projects for the YouTube channel Archa Media. Like his former colleagues from Temirov Live, he is charged under Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (calls for mass riots), which provides for up to 8 years in prison. According to the results of «forensic linguistic examination» of the content on the pages of Temirov Live and in social networks, experts found signs of calls for mass riots. Over the past year, the journalist has produced dozens of incisive stories on corruption and worked on even more high-profile investigations.