The U.S. Embassy remains deeply concerned about continued reports of courtroom disruptions and attacks on defense attorneys and defendants during trials related to the June 2010 violence in the Kyrgyz Republic. The most recent attack on lawyer Dinara Medetova occurred on January 9, 2014 in Bishkek. Such disruptions erode public confidence in the judicial system and create an environment of fear and intimidation.
The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages authorities to maintain order during court proceedings and stop attacks immediately if they occur. We further urge the offices of the prosecutor general to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of these attacks. Rule of law and an impartial judicial system are the foundations of a democratic society. Attacks in the court system are attacks on the democratic system and should not go unpunished.
