Freedom for Eurasia is concerned about the videos and photos of brutal torture and beating of detainees circulated on social media on February 16, 2025. In these videos Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) officers brutally assault and torture a male detainee who was later identified as Nurbek Asanov. It was reported that this hapepned in GKNB facility in Osh. These brutal practices, which were widespread during the Soviet era, have persisted throughout Kyrgyzstan’s 30 years of independence despite various reform efforts.
While previous years saw the development of mechanisms to prevent torture and hold perpetrators accountable, the current regime under President Sadyr Japarov and GKNB Chairman Kamchibek Tashiev has overseen a significant deterioration in human rights protections. Torture has reemerged as a systematic tool of state repression, with GKNB officers routinely using physical and psychological abuse to extract confessions and silence dissent.
The widespread use of torture in detention facilities Kyrgyzstan appears designed to instill fear in the population and suppress any challenge to authority. Victims report severe beatings, suffocation, electric shocks, and psychological torment. These acts violate both Kyrgyzstan’s international human rights obligations and domestic laws prohibiting torture.
The victim in the photos received by Freedom for Eurasia is Nurbek Asanov who was detained by GKNB officers and beaten. GKNB tried to force him to confess to a crime he insists he did not commit.
On the same day head of the Information Policy Service of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, attempted to normalize this torture of the detainees, accusing them of being members of an organized criminal group and of engaging in extortion. Orunbekov further said that they allegedly resisted arrest and tried to escape. But the video clearly shows brutal beatings of two detainees, in particular Nurbek Asanov. Photographs clearly show injuries inflicted by GKNB officers.
It is completely unacceptable for the head of the information security service to act as an investigator and judge in one person, accusing citizens of crimes without conducting an investigation in accordance with the law. It is also unacceptable for an official to justify the brutal treatment of detained citizens by GKNB officers. There is no excuse for the use of torture. And it is also unacceptable to initiate attacks on the human rights defenders Rita Karasartova, Bolot Temirov and Tilekmat Kurenov who raised this case and demanded the responsibility of the guilty persons.
It is essential not to minimize the violations that have occurred and to justify them with alleged crimes committed by the detainees. Every individual, regardless of the accusations against them, deserves to be treated fairly and subjected to due process. Any crimes should be addressed through the legal system, where evidence is presented, and the judicial process determines guilt or innocence.
Justifying human rights violations based on alleged actions of the accused undermines the principles of justice and fairness that are fundamental to the legal system. It is the responsibility of the courts to render a verdict based on facts and legal standards, not based on public opinion or sensational claims. Upholding the rule of law ensures accountability for all parties involved, and any infringement of rights must be addressed through appropriate legal channels, rather than through vigilantism or preemptive judgments.
It is important to recall that Kyrgyzstan is a member of conventions in the field of human rights protection, including The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Torture is also prohibited by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Kyrgyzstan has undertaken to comply with these norms.
The current leadership’s tolerance of torture represents a dangerous backsliding on human rights progress. By allowing security services to operate with impunity, the regime is recreating the climate of fear that characterized the darkest periods of Soviet rule. We call on Kyrgyz authorities to immediately halt all torture, investigate reported cases, hold perpetrators accountable, and restore proper oversight of detention facilities. The international community must increase pressure on Kyrgyzstan to meet its human rights obligations and end the systemic use of torture by state security services.
It is imperative to uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights in all circumstances. The justification of human rights violations based on alleged crimes undermines justice and accountability, and it is vital to hold all offenders, regardless of their status, accountable through a fair legal process.
We firmly call on the Kyrgyz authorities to take decisive action and hold the perpetrators of these gross violations accountable. It is crucial for the government to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those who commit violations of human rights face appropriate consequences. Accountability is essential not only for justice for the victims but also for the integrity of the legal system and the protection of human rights in the society. We urge the authorities to investigate these violations thoroughly and take all necessary measures to prevent impunity, demonstrating a commitment to justice and the protection of the rights of all individuals.
We call upon the international community, particularly the European Union and the United States, to take a firm stand against these violations. We demand the implementation of targeted sanctions against individuals and entities involved in these abuses and the enforcement of measures that ensure accountability for any violations of human rights.
Disclaimer:
The photos and videos presented in this material contain graphic content depicting violence that may be distressing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. The intent of sharing this content is to raise awareness about serious issues and promote discussion surrounding the impact of torture.
