Rita Karasartova is a Candidate of Economic Sciences (equal to PHD), public figure, and human rights defender. She is known for her work in fighting corruption and promoting transparency in public administration. Karasartova’s civic activism was one of the main reasons criminal proceedings were initiated against her in connection with the so-called “Kempir-Abad case” — one of the most high-profile political cases in Kyrgyzstan.
The “Kempir-Abad case” began in October 2022, after protests against the government’s decision to demarcate the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border and transfer territory around the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan. Authorities justified the move as necessary for border clarification and regional security, while the opposition and civil society criticized it as a threat to Kyrgyzstan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Following the protests, members of the “Committee to Protect Kempir-Abad” and other activists were charged with “preparing mass riots” and “attempting to seize power by force,” and more than 20 people, including prominent politicians, activists, and journalists, were arrested. The investigation and trial stretched for nearly two years, with detainees held in poor conditions in pre-trial detention centers, some experiencing deteriorating health, hospitalization, or hunger strikes. International organizations repeatedly stated that detention conditions failed to meet international standards.
On June 22, 2023, Karasartova was released to house arrest. In June 2024, the court upheld her measure of restraint without changes, and the trial continues in the court of second instance. While the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek acquitted several defendants in June 2024, the appeals process is ongoing. International organizations have described the entire case as politically motivated persecution.
In addition to these charges, Rita Karasartova faces prosecution under a new criminal case opened in 2025 after she made public a letter (a testament) from well-known civic activist Tilekmat Kurenov, himself also a defendant in the Kempir-Abad case. In this new proceeding, Karasartova has been charged under Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (“Organization of mass riots”) and Article 327 (“Public calls for the seizure of power by force”). The trial is being conducted behind closed doors, raising serious concerns regarding fairness and transparency. The case has been marked by procedural violations, restrictions on the rights of her lawyers, and limited access to the media. These circumstances reinforce international concerns about ongoing human rights violations and the lack of a fair trial, framing the case as another example of politically motivated persecution.