Kyrgyzstan: For the first time, lawyer was arrested for insulting judges

Lawyer Nurbek Toktakunov was arrested for five days for insulting judges. The corresponding decision was made by the Pervomaiskiy Court of Bishkek.

On March 24, the Pervomaiskiy District Court of Bishkek considered a case of petty hooliganism against lawyer Nurbek Toktakunov. The reason was his statement at a rally in front of the Russian Embassy concerning the events in Ukraine. Toktakunov publicly called the country’s judges ‘nonentities’.

A well-known lawyer in Kyrgyzstan was charged with “obscenities in a public place”. For this, judge Ibaydulla Satimkulov ordered Toktakunov to be arrested for five days.

“The decision of the Pervomaiskiy District Court to ban rallies and any actions in a certain place and for a certain period of time is illegal. By law, it’s possible to prohibit any specific rally or action if they pose a threat to public safety. And such decisions of judges are contrary to the constitution,” Toktakunov said in a video message, adding that judges have no right to make such decisions.

The decision of the Pervomaiskiy Court against Toktakunov provoked public condemnation. Near the building of the Regional Department of Internal Affairs, where the man was taken after the trial, about 20 people gathered to support the lawyer and protest the punishment imposed on him.

Later, Nurbek Toktakunov was released. According to the lawyer himself, this happened before the entry into force of the court decision. Since the defenders of Toktakunov filed an appeal, which suspends the execution of the decision until it’s considered by the City Court of Bishkek.