Alisher Saipov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alisher Saipov
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Alisher Saipov
4 September 1981 Kyrgyz SSR
|
| Died | 24 October 2007 (aged 26) Osh, Kyrgyzstan
|
| Nationality | Kyrgyzstani |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Known for | 2007 murder |
Alisher Saipov (Uzbek: Alisher Soipov, Алишер Соипов; born September 4, 1981 – died October 24, 2007) was a journalist from Kyrgyzstan. He was of Uzbek background. Saipov was the main editor for a newspaper called Siyosat. This newspaper focused on the Uzbek people living in Kyrgyzstan.
Saipov's newspaper often wrote about problems with human rights in the nearby country of Uzbekistan. He wrote many articles that questioned the government of Uzbek President Islam Karimov. He also reported on how people were treated in Uzbek prisons. Saipov also wrote about groups with extreme views. He worked for news groups like RFE/RL and Voice of America. Sadly, he was shot and killed in October 2007. This happened near his office in Osh.
Alisher Saipov's Journalism Work
Alisher Saipov was known for reporting very strongly on the politics of Uzbekistan. The group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that Saipov was criticized in Uzbek state media. This happened in the month before he died. He had also said that security agents from Uzbekistan were watching him.
Natalia Antelava, a reporter from BBC News, said that Alisher Saipov was one of the bravest journalists in Central Asia. He was only 26 years old. He wrote a lot about how people were treated in Uzbek prisons. He also wrote about how the government stopped people from speaking freely. Saipov also reported on the difficult lives of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan.
Investigation into Saipov's Death
On October 24, 2007, Alisher Saipov was shot and killed. This happened right outside his office in Osh. He had a wife and a three-month-old daughter. Amnesty International asked the authorities in Kyrgyzstan to protect journalists better. They also asked for a full and fair investigation into Saipov's murder.
In 2007 and 2008, investigators in Kyrgyzstan looked into claims. They thought that Uzbek security agents might have been involved in the murder. The International Crisis Group, another organization, said there were "strong signs" that Uzbek agents were responsible.
In April 2009, officials announced an arrest. They said they had arrested a former police officer named Abdufarit Rasulov. They also said they found the weapon used in the murder. However, a judge in Osh City Court said there was not enough proof for a trial. Prosecutors then appealed this decision. The judge was later replaced.
On December 9, 2009, Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court made a decision. They said the case against Abdufarit Rasulov could go forward. This happened after Alisher Saipov's father, Avaz Saipov, appealed. He called the case "fake." According to Uznews, Rasulov said he was not involved in the murder. He also said that police had beaten him.
A spokesperson for the CPJ said that not starting a new investigation made it seem like the authorities cared less about justice. They seemed more interested in closing a case that caused diplomatic problems. Radio Free Europe also criticized the decision. They said the confusion around the investigation meant Saipov's killers were not held responsible. This also raised questions about the government's commitment to solving the case. In 2010, Rasulov was found guilty. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
On October 25, 2012, a new investigation began. This was stated by Kyrgyz Deputy Interior Minister Melis Turganbaev.
