Kyrgyzstan: Rights Defender on Trial After Publishing Activist’s Letter

Rights Defender Faces Trial Over Published Letter

A Kyrgyz human rights defender, Rita Karasartova, is set to go on trial on August 15, 2025, accused of organizing mass riots and inciting the violent seizure of power. The charges stem from her decision to publish a letter from an opposition activist on Facebook. Karasartova faces up to 10 years in prison, and her case has been classified, raising concerns about fair trial rights.

Key Takeaways

Rita Karasartova, a human rights defender, is on trial for publishing a letter from activist Tilekmat Kurenov.
She faces charges of organizing mass riots and calling for the violent seizure of power, with a potential 10-year sentence.
The case is classified, limiting the defense’s access to evidence and potentially leading to closed-door hearings, violating fair trial rights.
Karasartova has been in custody since her arrest on April 14, 2025.
Human Rights Watch calls for the immediate release of Karasartova and the declassification of her case.

Background of the Case

The charges against Karasartova were initiated after she posted a letter from Tilekmat Kurenov on her Facebook page on April 14, 2025. Kurenov, who was in the UAE at the time, had entrusted the letter to Karasartova for his relatives, asking her to publish it if he became unreachable. Karasartova stated she published the letter due to a lack of communication from Kurenov, fearing he might have been forcibly disappeared by Kyrgyz authorities.

On April 19, Kyrgyz authorities confirmed Kurenov was in their custody, having been forcibly returned from the UAE. He was charged with calling for and preparing mass riots and attempting to seize power. The State Committee on National Security had previously alleged a plot to seize power, with Kurenov identified as a leader who intended to incite unrest on "ethno-nationalist grounds" to discredit the government.

Allegations and Defense

Karasartova was detained shortly after publishing Kurenov’s letter. Police claimed she had "close ties" with key suspects in the alleged plot. The prosecution alleges that Karasartova conspired with Kurenov and his accomplices, and that her publication of the letter served as a signal for coordinated actions to seize power. However, Karasartova, in a letter from detention, asserted that her case was not substantively related to Kurenov’s, with the sole connection being the publication of his letter. She believes her detention is due to her opposition views and her efforts to promote peaceful political change.

Concerns Over Fair Trial Rights

Human Rights Watch has expressed serious concerns about the classification of Karasartova’s case. This measure prevents the defense from obtaining its own copy of the evidence file and suggests the trial may be held behind closed doors, both of which are violations of international fair trial standards. The organization noted that the trial has already been postponed twice.

Previous Prosecutions and International Calls

This is not the first time Karasartova has faced legal challenges in a classified case. She was previously involved in the "Kempir-Abad case," which targeted activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and politicians who opposed the transfer of the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan. Although all defendants in that case were acquitted in June 2024, the prosecution has appealed the decision.

Human Rights Watch urges Kyrgyz authorities to declassify Karasartova’s case and ensure her fair trial rights if the prosecution continues. They recommend providing Karasartova and her legal team with full access to case materials and conducting all hearings publicly. International partners, including the EU, US, and UN, are called upon to publicly advocate for Karasartova’s release and the declassification of her case, warning that restrictions on civil society and the judiciary could impact bilateral relations.