Open letter of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights
Way to suppress the independent "Respublica" newspaper and the KCHR

Dear All,

Today judge Maksimbekova issued a judgment to fine the "Respublica" newspaper in amount 300,000 soms (more than 6,000 USD), the KCHR Dyryldaev - 5,000 soms and the members of Direction body Osmonaliev M., Fomenko A., Jakyshev M., Bekberdinov N., Masakeeva S. and Yausheva E. each with 2,000 soms, i.e. the sum total is 17,000 soms (more than 300 USD). The ground for imposing the fine was the action of Eliseev, who as far back as 1997 was dismissed from the KCHR. Since that time he has been used against KCHR on the pretext of detainment of his workbook. Thus the KCHR has been fined already 5 times on the action of Eliseeev.

Although the first time in 1998 the court delivered a right judgment, after that under the pressure of Administration of President the courts of Kyrgyzstan have repeatedly imposed fine against the KCHR. The first fine was paid but in spite of this the imposition of fines continued. On the pretext of non-execution of court judgments on 7 April criminal proceedings were instituted against Dyryldaev and on the basis of fabricated criminal charge on 20 July 2000 an attempt to arrest Dyryldaev was committed; in result he was compelled to leave the country and currently is working in exile.

Under the pressure of international community the Kyrgyz authorities began announcing that the proceedings against Dyryldaev was stopped. In 1999 the "Respublica" newspaper was fined on the action of the former President of State TV-Radio Corporation, now Director of Administration of President Karypkulov A. in amount 200,000 soms and before that in 1996-1998 the General Editor of the newspaper Zamira Sydykova had been twice sentenced to 4 years deprivation of liberty. Part of the sentence she served in the prisons of Kyrgyzstan, where she was subjected to tortures. Beside her another 5 members of the newspaper's editorial office were sentenced to different terms of deprivation of liberty. At the present the newspaper has got financial difficulties and its issue is under threat.

Yours sincerely

R. Dyryldaev
Chairman of the Kyrgyz Committee
for Human Rights in exile
c/o IHF
Austria, Vienna
A- 1080 Wickenburgg. 14/7
tel: 43 1 408 88 22; 43 1 956 58 94;
Fax+43 1 408 88 22-50
http://www.kchr.elcat.kg