Bangladesh, March 16 -- In the early hours of January 16, 2024, on what should have been a celebratory day for young journalist Aike Beishekeyeva, tragedy struck. Instead of preparing for a birthday celebration with colleagues, Beishekeyeva found herself apprehended from her family home, accused of inciting mass unrest. Her crime? Investigative journalism. This shocking incident underscores the alarming deterioration of press freedoms in Kyrgyzstan, where journalists are increasingly finding themselves behind bars for daring to speak truth to power.

Beishekeyevas case is not isolated. Alongside her, 10 other journalists associated with Temirov Live, a team known for its courageous investigations into government corruption, have been arre...