Asanov Bektur
A well-known public and political figure, former governor and ambassador, leader of the Egemen Kyrgyzstan party, and former Member of Parliament. In 2016, he was arrested and recognized as a political prisoner by the Committee for the Protection of Political Prisoners.
On October 23, 2022, Bektur Asanov was detained in connection with the “Kempir-Abad” case. On February 7, 2024, due to his deteriorating health condition, he was released on a pledge not to leave the country by decision of the City Court. His case was separated from the other defendants’ cases and placed into a separate proceeding.
Information about the trial, which is being considered by the Pervomaisky District Court, remains limited. Details about the course of the hearings, outcomes, and other procedural developments have not been made publicly available.
Charged under Articles Organization of mass riots – Article 278
Calls for the violent seizure of power – Article 327
In 2022, activists, politicians, and public figures who opposed the government’s decision to transfer the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan were detained. This event caused significant public outrage and later became known as the “Kempir-Abad case.” In October of the same year, mass arrests began. Bektur Asanov was among those detained on October 23 as part of this case. This marked the first large-scale arrests in Kyrgyzstan’s history linked to public protests over border issues.
On February 7, 2024, Bektur Asanov was released from custody under a pledge not to leave the country, and his case was separated into a separate proceeding. At present, Asanov’s case is being considered in the court of first instance.
In 2022, during his detention in Bishkek’s SIZO-1 as part of the “Kempir-Abad” case, Bektur Asanov’s health sharply deteriorated. On December 4, 2023, he slipped while taking a shower, fell on the tile floor, and injured his cervical spine. Following this, he began to experience severe neck pain. An MRI conducted on December 14 revealed serious spinal problems. On January 15, 2023, he underwent surgery on his cervical spine at the National Hospital. Despite the surgery, his condition remained serious, and he was later transferred in poor health to Pre-trial Detention Facility No. 31 in Moldoavanovka village.
In March 2024, the court granted Asanov permission to travel to Turkey for spinal surgeries on his cervical and lumbar regions. The operations were successfully performed there, and he returned to Kyrgyzstan in April. While detained, Asanov also declared a hunger strike. At present, he remains under a pledge not to leave the country, while continuing medical treatment and regular supervision.
Bektur Asanov suffers from acute conditions affecting his cervical and lumbar spine. He requires continuous medical supervision, access to necessary surgeries, specialized medications, and monitoring by qualified specialists.
