Bishkek Court Rules To Deport Noted Investigative Journalist Bolot Temirov

BISHKEK -- The Bishkek City Court upheld a decision to deport noted Kyrgyz investigative journalist Bolot Temirov to Russia after finding him guilty of illegally obtaining a Kyrgyz passport.

After the court's decision was pronounced on November 23, Temirov was immediately detained by men in civilian clothes and forcibly taken from the courtroom.

Temirov's lawyer, Bakytbek Avtandil-uulu, told RFE/RL that he does know where his client was taken and how the court’s ruling will be carried out.

In late September, the Sverdlov district court in Bishkek found the 43-year-old journalist not guilty on charges of illegal drugs possession and illegal border crossing. But it did conclude that his Kyrgyz passport was obtained with legal violations that would not lead to criminal prosecution due to the statute of limitations.

Prosecutors then appealed the court's ruling, questioning the statute of limitation and demanding that the investigative journalist, who also holds a Russian passport, be deported.

Temirov and traditional bard singer Bolot Nazarov, who performed his anti-corruption songs on the YouTube channel Temirov LIVE, were arrested in January for allegedly possessing illegal drugs, which the two men say were planted by police.

In April, Bishkek city police filed additional charges against Temirov, accusing him of forgery and illegally crossing the border with Russia.

Police said Temirov, who was born in Kyrgyzstan but raised in Russia, used forged documents to obtain a Kyrgyz passport in 2008, which he then used to illegally exit and enter Kyrgyzstan.

Temirov rejected all of the charges, saying they were brought against him after he published the results of his investigation suggesting corruption among top officials of the Central Asian nation.

Kyrgyz authorities have denied that probes against Temirov are politically motivated.

Earlier this month, Temirov was shortlisted for the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Awards 2022.

Temirov was among 12 people recognized by the U.S. State Department last year as anti-corruption champions.

Temirov's parents are naturalized Russian citizens and reside in Moscow.