UN urges the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to stop persecuting human rights defenders

Mary Lawlor (Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders) urged the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to stop prosecuting human rights activist Kamil Ruziev and investigate the offenses that he had uncovered.

She noted that the authorities of Kyrgyzstan must ensure a fair trial for Ruziev and effectively investigate all allegations of threats and cruel treatment against him and other human rights defenders.

“Authorities began bringing criminal charges against Mr. Ruziev after he exposed torture and law enforcement inefficiency. It’s necessary to investigate threats against him,” the Special Rapporteur added.

The UN expert is also concerned about the state of health of Ruziev, who is under investigation.

Speaking earlier this year to the Human Rights Council concerning the situation of human rights defenders, Lawlor warned, “When a human rights defender receives death threats, action must be taken immediately to stop such threats. Impunity fuels a rise in homicides.”

As noted, Mary Lawlor is in contact with the authorities of Kyrgyzstan on this issue. Her call was echoed by Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health.

Kamilzhan Ruziev is the director of the human rights non-governmental organization “Ventus”. The organization, that he leads, is dedicated to protecting victims of torture, domestic violence and discrimination.

In 2019, the police investigator, whom Kamil Ruziev accused of using torture, threatened the human rights activist with reprisals. Ruziev applied to the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Prosecutor’s office with a statement about the investigation of this incident. However, the law enforcement agencies didn’t take action on this case.

In search of justice, the director of Ventus filed a lawsuit in connection with the inaction of state bodies. But the result turned out to be just the opposite: several criminal cases were initiated against the human rights activist, including forgery of documents, the trial of which is still ongoing.

In May 2020, the human rights activist was detained near the court building, where his lawsuit against the employees of the State Committee for National Security and the prosecutor of the city of Karakol was being considered.

While in the detention center, Kamil Ruziev went on a hunger strike. This was reported to the media by his son Azat Ruziev. He said that the family tried to give him food, but he refused to accept it.

In the same period, on the social networks of the Kyrgyz segment of the Internet, the civil society launched an information campaign in support of the human rights activist with the hashtag “Free Kamil!”.

On May 31, 2020, the court of Karakol, despite all the violations, recognized the detention of the anti-torture fighter as lawful and placed him under house arrest for two months.

Ruziev was also supported by Natalia Nikitenko, a member of the current parliament at that time. She appealed to the Prosecutor General’s Office with a request to ensure a full and objective verification of the legality of the actions of the SCNS’ officers concerning the detention of the human rights defender and the observance of his rights.

Due to pressure from law enforcement agencies, Kamil Ruziev has already appealed to President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, but to no avail. In June 2020, the human rights activist recorded a video message from the ward of the Issyk-Kul regional hospital, where he was receiving treatment. He said that the case against him was falsified.

Recently, Ruziev again complained that the criminal case against him wasn’t completed. He appealed to the President, the Prosecutor General and the Ombudsman about this. The trial dragged on for two years. During that time, the case was considered only in the first court instance. He regards this as persecution against him. He also believes that they want to avenge him for his human rights activities. The city court of Karakol reported that legal proceedings against the human rights activist are ongoing.