Azimzhan Askarov

Azimzhan Askarov
Askarov in 2013
Born(1951-05-17)17 May 1951
Bazar-Korgon, Kyrgyz SSR
Died25 July 2020(2020-07-25) (aged 69)
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
OccupationJournalist
Known forHuman rights activism, allegedly political imprisonment
Awards

Azimzhan Askarov (Uzbek: Azimjon Asqarov, Азимжон Асқаров; 17 May 1951 – 25 July 2020) was a Kyrgyzstani political activist who founded the group Vozduh in 2002 to investigate police brutality. Of ethnic Uzbek descent,[1] during the 2010 South Kyrgyzstan ethnic clashes, which primarily targeted people of the Uzbek nationality, Askarov worked to document the violence.[2]

He was subsequently arrested and prosecuted on charges of creating mass disturbances, incitement of ethnic hatred, and complicity in murder.[3] Following a trial protested by several international human rights groups for irregularities—including alleged torture and the courtroom intimidation of witnesses by police—Askarov was given a life sentence, which he was serving.[1] In November 2010, Askarov's health was reported to be rapidly deteriorating as a result of his confinement. Numerous groups advocated on his behalf, including Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, People In Need, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Amnesty International, the latter of which designated him a prisoner of conscience.[4]

In 2015, the U.S. conferred the 2014 Human Rights Defender Award on Askarov. The Kyrgyz government protested this decision and formally terminated a 1993 agreement on cooperation between the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan. On 12 July 2016, the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan revoked the life sentence against Askarov and sent his case to the Chui Oblast Court for review.[5] He was resentenced for life on 24 January 2017. Following amendments to Kyrgyzstan's Criminal Code in 2017, which came into force in 2019, Askarov's lawyers applied for a review of his sentence. However, on 30 July 2019, the Chui regional court upheld the life sentence of Askarov. He died in prison in 2020.

  1. ^ a b "Human rights groups condemn Kyrgyzstan activist jailing". BBC News. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  2. ^ The Associated Press (27 July 2020). "Kyrgyzstan Rights Activist Azimzhan Askarov Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Appeal to the international community – call for a new, fair review of the case of human rights defender Azimzhan Askarov sentenced to life in Kyrgyzstan". International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR). 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Further Information: Prisoner of Conscience on Brink of Death: Azimzhan Askarov". Amnesty International. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Kyrgyz high court revokes activist's sentence, sends case to lower court". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.