The Kyrgyz journalist Bolot Temirov, who was planted with drugs, was followed. There was a hidden camera in his bedroom

Temirov Live channel staff released appeal after the detention of journalist Bolot Temirov, who was investigating corruption. Siloviki planted him drugs after Temirov told about the corruption of the head of the national security of Kyrgyzstan. Temirov has been under surveillance in recent weeks.

“Bolot Temirov was detained on January 22 in the evening. This happened two days after the release of an investigation into the oil business of relatives of the head of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev. We have published investigations about Tashiev and his relatives before, and this is the result,” Aktilek Kaparov, a Temirov Live journalist, said in an appeal.

He added that they tried to “shut their mouths” to journalists so that they would stop investigating corruption, but Temirov Live employees would continue their work.

According to Kaparov, in December 2021, a hidden video camera with wiretapping was found in the house of Bolot Temirov. It was installed right in the journalist’s bedroom. After that, Temirov Live employees began to receive threats. Journalists were required to warn about investigative topics.

January 20, 2022 Temirov Live published investigation entitled “How to earn 37 million soms in two days? Sadyr Japarov and the Tashievs’ scheme. In it, the author of the material, Bolot Temirov, revealed the involvement of relatives of the head of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, Kamchybek Tashiev, in the activities of the state oil company Kyrgyzneftegaz. In particular, the investigative journalist told how Tashiev’s nephew’s company earned 37 million soms by acting as an intermediary in the export of Kyrgyzneftegaz products.

On January 22, law enforcers came to the office of Temirov Live in Bishkek, they conducted a search and seized system units and equipment, after which they revealed drugs from Temirov. The journalist was taken to the Bishkek police department. He managed to report that he was not guilty of anything, and drugs were planted on him.

Also January 22 detained singer Bolot Nazarov, who sang about corruption under Temirov’s investigations.