The International Press Institute (IPI) is concerned about the circumstances surrounding the death on 10 July of an independent journalist from injuries sustained during a reported beating at the hands of police.

Almaz Tashiyev, who was known for his critical reporting on the Kyrgyz government fell into a coma a few days after the attack and died following surgery.

The journalist reportedly told relatives that he had been beaten by eight police officers.

The incident took place in the southern town of Nookat.

Officials in Kyrgyzstan today claimed that a police officer had confessed to getting into a fight with Tashiyev, but that the altercation was “private” and unrelated to the journalist’s work.

However, since Tashiyev was known for his critical reporting on the government’s policies, and since a number of reporters have been assaulted in the run-up to presidential elections, suspicions about the exact circumstances of the attack remain.

“With elections in Kyrgyzstan on 23 July and widespread accusations against the Kyrgyz government for clamping down on its critics, the authorities must explicitly rule out the possibility that Tashiyev was beaten for his criticism of the government,” said IPI Director David Dadge.

“The government must ensure that the investigation into the journalist’s murder is carried out transparently and independently, and that all perpetrators are brought to justice. If not, there is a very real danger that the attack will encourage further attacks on the media in the belief that perpetrators can escape justice with impunity.”

International observers, including OSCE and IPI, have drawn attention to the escalating violence against journalists in the Central Asian state.