Bishkek court adjourns Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy retrial to Sept 30 after experts fail to appear

September 23, 2026 at 08:43 PM2 min

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The Leninsky District Court in Bishkek adjourned the retrial of journalist Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy to September 30 and October 6 after two forensic experts failed to appear. The prosecution said one expert was attending a State Language Day event and the other was on sick leave. The defense argued one expert lacked the required competence and presented a Ministry of Justice certificate.

Key Facts

Judge Temir Mamatov adjourned the hearing to September 30 and October 6 after the experts failed to appear.
One expert was at a State Language Day event and the other was on sick leave, according to the prosecution.
The defense presented a Ministry of Justice certificate stating that one expert lacked the necessary competence.
In March 2026, the Supreme Court sent the case for review based on newly discovered circumstances and Tazhibek kyzy was released on a written undertaking not to leave the city.
In October 2025, the Oktyabrsky District Court declared Temirov LIVE and 'Ait, ait dese' media materials extremist and banned their activities in Kyrgyzstan.

Hearing Adjournment

The Leninsky District Court in Bishkek held a hearing in the retrial of journalist Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy under Judge Temir Mamatov. Two experts from the Forensic Expert Service under the Ministry of Justice were expected to attend but did not appear. The prosecution representative said one expert was at a State Language Day event and the other was on sick leave. Judge Mamatov adjourned the hearing to September 30 and October 6 due to the experts' absence.

Defense Challenge

The defense argued that one of the experts lacked the necessary competence and presented a Ministry of Justice certificate confirming this. The prosecution responded that the document did not specify the expert's term of authority, which would confirm whether the expert had the relevant right.

Case Background

On October 10, 2024, the Leninsky District Court sentenced Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy to six years in prison, and subsequent instances upheld the decision. In March 2026, the Supreme Court sent the case for review based on newly discovered circumstances, after which Tazhibek kyzy was released from custody on a written undertaking not to leave the city. The criminal case relates to January 2024 events, when police detained 11 journalists, activists, and staff linked to Temirov LIVE and 'Ait, ait dese' media projects, charging them in a mass unrest case. Tazhibek kyzy did not admit guilt. In October 2025, the Oktyabrsky District Court declared Temirov LIVE and 'Ait, ait dese' media materials extremist and banned their activities in Kyrgyzstan. At the first hearing, the court did not allow the journalist to travel to London to receive an award from the Amal Clooney foundation.