Crossroads Asia | Society | Central Asia

Temirov Live Director Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy Released Pending New Trial

Although the Kyrgyz Supreme Court had previously upheld the verdict against her, Tazhibek kyzy was granted a new trial and released on parole this week.

In October 2024, Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy was convicted of organizing or aiding in “calls for mass unrest” and sentenced to six years in a Kyrgyz prison.

Tazhibek kyzy is the director of Temirov Live and Ait, Ait Dese; she’s married to Temirov Live’s exiled founder, Bolot Temirov.

On March 10, 2026, the Kyrgyz Supreme Court – which in February 2025 had upheld the ruling against Tazhibek kyzy – overturned her sentence and sent the case back to the Leninsky District Court of Bishkek for retrial, reportedly based on “newly discovered circumstances.”

Tazhibek kyzy’s lawyers had urged the court to dismiss the case entirely. They demanded that the Kyrgyz state comply with the decisions of international bodies, specifically the opinion of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued in October 2025 that Tazhibek kyzy’s detention was arbitrary, as many human rights groups have argued since her arrest in January 2024.

On March 23, Tazhibek kyzy was released on bail, walking free for the first time in two years. She’s subject to a travel ban and the next hearing is set for April 7.

It’s not clear from current reporting what the “newly discovered circumstances” are that prompted the Supreme Court – which had, as previously mentioned, upheld the verdict only a year ago – to reverse its own previous decision. 

There are, however, clues in the current turbulent context of Kyrgyz politics more broadly.

In February, the powerful head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) Kamchybek Tashiev was suddenly and summarily dismissed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The SNCS under Tashiev had pursued a campaign against Kyrgyzstan’s most independent journalists, especially those associated with Kloop and Temirov Live, known for their corruption investigations.

In fact, Bolot Temirov’s troubles with the Kyrgyz state, which ultimately led to the revocation of his citizenship and his deportation to Russia, kicked into high gear in January 2022 after Temirov Live published an investigation via YouTube alleging the corrupt involvement of relatives of Tashiev in the state oil company. Temirov Live persisted despite extreme pressure, and in January 2024 Tazhibek kyzy was among a dozen journalists arrested for allegedly stirring up unrest.

Fast forward to March 16, 2026 and it was a Kyrgyz government agency, the State Tax Service, making the exact same allegations – followed this time by arrests, including of Tashiev’s nephew. Tashiev himself has been questioned as a “winess.”

It’s difficult not to interpret the Supreme Court’s decision in Tazhibek kyzy’s case as rooted in the same political opportunism as the State Tax Service’s sudden airing of corruption allegations related to Tashiev’s family.

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In October 2024, Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy was convicted of organizing or aiding in “calls for mass unrest” and sentenced to six years in a Kyrgyz prison.

Tazhibek kyzy is the director of Temirov Live and Ait, Ait Dese; she’s married to Temirov Live’s exiled founder, Bolot Temirov.

On March 10, 2026, the Kyrgyz Supreme Court – which in February 2025 had upheld the ruling against Tazhibek kyzy – overturned her sentence and sent the case back to the Leninsky District Court of Bishkek for retrial, reportedly based on “newly discovered circumstances.”

Tazhibek kyzy’s lawyers had urged the court to dismiss the case entirely. They demanded that the Kyrgyz state comply with the decisions of international bodies, specifically the opinion of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued in October 2025 that Tazhibek kyzy’s detention was arbitrary, as many human rights groups have argued since her arrest in January 2024.

On March 23, Tazhibek kyzy was released on bail, walking free for the first time in two years. She’s subject to a travel ban and the next hearing is set for April 7.

It’s not clear from current reporting what the “newly discovered circumstances” are that prompted the Supreme Court – which had, as previously mentioned, upheld the verdict only a year ago – to reverse its own previous decision. 

There are, however, clues in the current turbulent context of Kyrgyz politics more broadly.

In February, the powerful head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) Kamchybek Tashiev was suddenly and summarily dismissed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The SNCS under Tashiev had pursued a campaign against Kyrgyzstan’s most independent journalists, especially those associated with Kloop and Temirov Live, known for their corruption investigations.

In fact, Bolot Temirov’s troubles with the Kyrgyz state, which ultimately led to the revocation of his citizenship and his deportation to Russia, kicked into high gear in January 2022 after Temirov Live published an investigation via YouTube alleging the corrupt involvement of relatives of Tashiev in the state oil company. Temirov Live persisted despite extreme pressure, and in January 2024 Tazhibek kyzy was among a dozen journalists arrested for allegedly stirring up unrest.

Fast forward to March 16, 2026 and it was a Kyrgyz government agency, the State Tax Service, making the exact same allegations – followed this time by arrests, including of Tashiev’s nephew. Tashiev himself has been questioned as a “winess.”

It’s difficult not to interpret the Supreme Court’s decision in Tazhibek kyzy’s case as rooted in the same political opportunism as the State Tax Service’s sudden airing of corruption allegations related to Tashiev’s family.

Catherine Putz is managing editor of The Diplomat.

Kyrgyzstan media crackdown

Makhabat Tajibek kyzy

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