Kyrgyzstan: Supreme Court urges not to send suspects to pre-trial detention facilities

Human rights activists have appealed to the Supreme Court with a request in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic to choose an alternative measure of restraint for persons suspected of a crime.

The Coalition Against Torture in Kyrgyzstan emphasizes that today the spread of coronavirus infection is extremely increasing and this raises concerns about the density of people held in closed institutions of Kyrgyzstan.

“For example, in the pre-trial detention center # 21 in Bishkek, there are more than 1.2 thousand people, while the capacity of the institution is 1 thousand 325 people. As you know, persons in custody and places of deprivation of liberty are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 in conditions of compact accommodation and limited prevention options, including the inability to maintain a safe distance and isolation, ”said human rights activists.

In their opinion, one of the main reasons for the overcrowding of pre-trial detention centers is in the selection of a preventive measure against suspects. Based on this, the Coalition Against Torture appeals to the Supreme Court with a request to take into account the recommendations of the President, who, at the second meeting of the profile committee under the National Council for Sustainable Development, stressed that it is not necessary to imprison for committing an economic crime, but it is necessary to use economic mechanisms to restore the inflicted damage.

“Do not forget the recommendations of the World Health Organization, which state that states need to pay more attention to the application of non-custodial measures at all stages of the criminal process, including at the pre-trial and trial stages, as well as after sentencing. In this regard, the Coalition believes that the active selection by the courts of an alternative measure of restraint will help contain the spread of the virus in places of restriction of freedom, ” concluded the Coalition.