Subject: Pressure exerted on lawyers Erkin Sadanbekov and Kantemir Turdaliev
Le Président The President H.E.
Ayaz Baetov Minister of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic Bishkek city, Avenue M. Gvardiy 32 Kyrgyz Republic ep@minjust.gov.kg Brussels, 24 May 2024
Subject: Pressure exerted on lawyers Erkin Sadanbekov and Kantemir Turdaliev
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents the bars and law societies of 46 countries, and through them more than 1 million European lawyers. The CCBE places great emphasis on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and is particularly concerned with the situation of human rights defenders around the world. The CCBE would like to express its serious concern over the recent pressure exerted on lawyers Erkin Sadanbekov and Kantemir Turdaliev. According to information we have received, lawyers Erkin Sadanbekov and Kantemir Turdaliev were forcibly taken to a court hearing by GKNB officers. It is reported that lawyer Erkin Sadanbekov was forcibly taken to court from a doctor’s office, where he was receiving medical treatment, despite having a sick leave certificate, and that lawyer Kantemir Turdaliev was also taken to court from a medical facility despite high blood pressure and having a sick leave certificate. It is reported that these developments are believed to be linked with the lawyers’ involvement in the KempirAbad case and that they have been pressured in relation to their legitimate activities as lawyers. We understand in this regard that the two lawyers appealed to GKNB head Kamchybek Tashiev, alleging pressure on them and their families. In this context, the CCBE wishes to draw your attention to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (attached), in particular Principles 16, 17 and 18 on Guarantees for the functioning of lawyers and Principle 23 on Freedom of expression and association. In view of the above, the CCBE respectfully urges Your Excellency to do everything in your power to ensure that a full and impartial investigation into these acts of pressure is carried out, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards. In addition, the CCBE wishes to recall that all lawyers should be able to carry out their professional duties without fear of reprisal, hindrance, intimidation or harassment in order to preserve the independence and integrity of the administration of justice and the rule of law.
Yours sincerely,
Pierre-Dominique Schupp President
Conseil des barreaux européens – Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe association internationale sans but lucratif Rue Joseph II, 40/8 – B 1000 Brussels – Belgium – Tel.+32 (0)2 234 65 10 – E-mail ccbe@ccbe.eu – www.ccbe.eu
