Last Thursday, an investigative journalist, editor of Factcheck.kg, Bolot Temirov, was beaten in Bishkek. ACCA editors contacted the journalist, asked about his health after the attack and found out about his future plans.
– How are you feeling?
– Already better. The results of analyzes and tomography show that there are no complications, but I am going to continue examination.
– What is the preliminary diagnosis?
– Brain concussion, soft tissue bruises. They damaged my front teeth and tongue.
– Has a criminal case been opened regarding the attack?
– Yes, the fact of the attack is registered in the Unified Register of crime registration. Pre-trial proceedings under the article “Robbery” have begun.
– That is, law enforcement agencies do not connect the attack with your professional activities?
– Obviously, yes. Although I explained to the investigators of the Pervomaysky District Department of Internal Affairs why I consider the attack to be related to my work. First, the attackers were looking for the address of our editorial office and me specifically the day before the attack. Secondly, if the attackers were robbers, it is strange that they did not take the laptop that was with me.
– Do you believe that criminals will be found and punished?
– I have a double opinion on this. In principle, I don’t exclude that they can find criminals. The police have enough technical capabilities to do this. But if they find the perpetrators, then there is a chance that the case can be hushed up, if it turns out that people close to the authorities are involved in this. Although, I talked to investigators. They want to solve the crime. The only thing, they fear, is a political pressure from above.
– Do you think that these were the people of the Matraimovs?
– This is one of the versions.
– Did you receive threats after the beating?
– No, there were no threats. On the contrary, I am very strongly supported by friends, acquaintances. I receive words of support from our readers and personally unfamiliar Internet users. I am very grateful to everyone.
– The attackers probably wanted to cause you to feel fear. What emotions do you feel now? Do you plan to stop doing what you are doing?
– While the scent is still hot, I haven’t such thoughts, but I think the understanding will be a little later. Now, I don’t want stopping work, on the contrary, the active support of users and readers has done its job. I feel more responsibility. Specifically, the attack, I probably don’t perceive as a matter of my personal safety. If this was done with the intention of putting pressure on me and intimidating me, then this is a matter of the safety of every journalist in Kyrgyzstan, a matter of the future of the entire free press in the Republic.
– Are you considering the possibility of leaving Kyrgyzstan to protect yourself and your family from similar incidents in the future?
– Maybe for a while, but not forever for sure. I don’t think about it.
– Has the regime of your office been changed? Has this attack somehow affected the work of your colleagues?
– No. The DOS attack, which was earlier, has affected more. Otherwise, we work as usual. We just began to pay more attention to security.
Recall that on January 9 in Bishkek, the editor-in-chief of the site, Bolot Temirov, was beaten right near the editorial office of Factcheck.kg. Bolot Temirov expressed the opinion that the attack could be related to the investigation of the wife of the former deputy of the Customs Service Raiymbek Matraimov. In December of this year, Factcheck.kg showed expensive purchases by Uulkan Turgunova during the years of her husband’s work as deputy chairman of the Customs Service.
The investigation of the attack on the journalist was taken under the personal control by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kashkar Dzhunushaliev.
The press secretary of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbai Jeenbekov, Tolgonay Stamalieva, answering journalist’s questions during the press conference, promised to ask the police about the case of beating Temirov.
The need for a careful investigation of this incident was stated by the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic Tokon Mamytov.
Note that journalists in Kyrgyzstan are not only beaten, but also killed because of their professional activities.
In 2007, in Osh, the killers shot and killed Alisher Saipov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Politika” [“Sayasat’]. He was only 26 years old. In the winter of 2009, the independent journalist Gennady Pavluk was killed. His body was found in Almaty. The killers tied his hands and feet, and threw him from the sixth floor.
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