birduino - Stop impunity!

Stop impunity!

Май 19.2026

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic — 19 May 2026

PRESS RELEASE

Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan Expresses Concern Over the Detention and Entry Ban Imposed on U.S. Professor Steve Swerdlow Upon Arrival in Kyrgyzstan

The human rights organization Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan expresses deep concern regarding the detention of U.S. citizen Professor Steve Swerdlow of the University of Southern California upon his arrival at Manas International Airport in Bishkek on 19 May 2026. According to available information, Professor Swerdlow was reportedly detained and denied entry into the Kyrgyz Republic without a clear public explanation of the legal grounds or justification for such actions.

Professor Swerdlow arrived in Kyrgyzstan together with a group of students from the University of Southern California for an educational and cultural visit. During his stay, he had planned to conduct academic lectures, meetings with young people, and discussions related to human rights, civic participation, academic exchange, and regional developments. The visit was intended to promote intercultural dialogue, educational cooperation, and engagement between students and local communities in Kyrgyzstan.

Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan is closely monitoring the situation surrounding this incident and considers it deeply troubling in the context of the continuing narrowing of civic space in Kyrgyzstan. In recent years, representatives of civil society, independent journalists, human rights defenders, activists, researchers, and international partners have increasingly raised concerns about growing restrictions affecting freedom of expression, freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and academic freedoms within the country.

The detention and unexplained denial of entry to an internationally recognized academic and human rights expert raises serious questions regarding transparency, proportionality, and adherence to international human rights obligations undertaken by the Kyrgyz Republic. Such actions may negatively affect Kyrgyzstan’s international reputation as a country historically recognized in Central Asia for relative openness, pluralism, and support for international cooperation and dialogue.

Academic exchange and open dialogue are fundamental components of democratic development and mutual understanding between societies. Universities, students, researchers, and civil society representatives play a critical role in strengthening democratic values, promoting peace, and encouraging constructive international engagement. Restricting access to scholars and experts without transparent justification risks creating a chilling effect on educational cooperation and civic participation.

Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan emphasizes that any limitations on freedom of movement or restrictions imposed on foreign academics, researchers, or civil society representatives must strictly comply with domestic legislation, constitutional guarantees, and international human rights standards, including principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination.

We call upon the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic to provide clear and transparent explanations regarding the reasons and legal basis for the detention and entry ban imposed on Professor Steve Swerdlow. We also urge state institutions to ensure respect for due process, transparency, and Kyrgyzstan’s international commitments in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan reaffirms its commitment to monitoring developments related to civic freedoms, human rights protections, and democratic principles in Kyrgyzstan. We will continue to engage with national and international partners in support of an open society where dialogue, academic exchange, and peaceful civic engagement are protected and encouraged.

Human rights, academic freedom, and international cooperation should never be treated as threats, but as essential pillars for sustainable democratic development and social progress.

Amid continuing systemic impunity, the Bir Duino team has still not received any official response from Kyrgyz authorities regarding the unlawful detention and deportation on 12 December 2025 of the delegation of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), including Ilya Nuzov, Head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk, and Raphael Lopoukhine, Head of FIDH Press Service, who were denied entry into Kyrgyzstan without any explanation of the reasons or legal grounds. The lack of transparency, legal clarification, and effective investigation into such incidents further raises concerns regarding the rule of law, Kyrgyzstan’s international obligations, and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country.

Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan Team, member. of Civic Solidarity Platform, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Feedback from our focus groups

SHAKHBOZ LATIPOV

Experience should be attached to a law degree

Shakhboz Latipov, 24 y.o., young lawyer: “When I came to BDK for an internship, I had no experience in legal and human rights activities. Together with experienced senior colleagues, I began to attend trials, studied documents. Gradually my supervisor Khusanbai Saliev began to trust me the preparation of documents, carefully checked them and gave practical advice. Experience comes with time and cases you work on. Every day dozens of people who need help come to us, many of them are from socially vulnerable groups: the poor, large families, elderly citizens. A lawyer in a human rights organization sometimes acts as a psychologist, it is important for him to be able to maintain professionalism and show empathy. At the end of 2019, I successfully passed the exam to get the right to start working as attorney and now I work on cases as an attorney. I turn to my colleagues for help on complex issues, they always give me their advice. This is one of the strengths of the organization: there is support and understanding here.”

FERUZA AMADALIEVA

Organization unites regions

Feruza Amadalieva, social worker, leader, teacher: “TOT from BDK is a great opportunity to get acquainted with participants from different regions, we continue to communicate on social media and when we meet at events, as close friends, we have such warm relations! At the events, I improved my knowledge, systematized it, clarified how to apply it in practice. I really like the training modules and the way the system of training and practice is built: role-playing games, theory, discussions. Each person expresses himself/herself. I have become a leader for other vulnerable women, I try to help them and engage them in such events.” Feruza Amadalieva is a regular participant of many BDK events, she invites the BDK lawyers to provide legal advice to vulnerable women.

NURIZA TALANTBEK KYZY

I became confident

In summer of 2019, Nuriza Talantbek kyzy took an active part in conducting regional screenings of documentaries, helped with organizational issues during the campaign dedicated to the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, participated in trips, and did the TOT on women's leadership. She used to be a migrant, worked for an NGO in Osh, and now works in Bishkek in the service industry. She calls her participation in the TOT “an invaluable experience”: “I first attended such an event, and received exactly the information that I needed, for which I am sincerely grateful to the facilitators. I experienced very difficult issues in my life, and thanks to that knowledge, I was able to overcome them, I persevered! After the TOT, I became more confident, began to better understand the essence of human rights, and learned to defend my interests.”

SHUKURULLO KOCHKAROV

The defendant has passed away. The work on his rehabilitation continues.

The case of Shukurullo Kochkarov shows that work on complex cases continues for many years. After the torture he was subjected to in 2010, he became disabled. We managed to get acquittal on one of the charges; the work is ongoing on achieving his rehabilitation and recognition as a victim of torture in order for compensation to be paid. Trials continue without Shukurullo Kochkarov - he died on 2 August 2019. His interests are represented by his father, Saidaziz Kochkarov, who also has a visual disability. “For many years, we have been supported by the employees of BDK, they have been handling the case of my son, they brought him to court because he couldn’t walk on his own, they constantly help our family: my wife and I underwent rehabilitation, they have helped my son by providing him with medicines, they provide all kinds of help”.

DILYOR JUMABAEV

Comprehensive support for victims of torture

Resident of the Kara-Suu district, Dilyor Jumabaev, has extensive experience in dealing with law enforcement agencies. In 2010, he was accused of possessing firearms, and thanks to the work of lawyers, he was acquitted. Two years later, his house was first searched in order to find materials of an extremist nature, but nothing was found. In 2014, he was accused of possessing extremist materials. In court, the prosecutor requested 15 years in prison; the court sentenced him to 6 years. A few years later he was released on parole. “I am grateful to the lawyers of BDK for their expert legal assistance. I participated in a rehabilitation program for victims of torture. When I encounter violations, I recommend contacting this organization.”

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