Tashiev's Defense Requests Judge Recusal Over Secret Witnesses

Defense lawyers for Kamchybek Tashiev, former head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security, have requested a judge's recusal in the ongoing "Case 75" trial. The request came after the defense was denied access to interrogation protocols for three witnesses whose identities are being kept secret. The defense argued that while witness identities can be classified, their testimony should be accessible to all parties involved in the legal process.

The trial, which resumed on June 4, 2026, in Bishkek's Pervomaisky District Court, is being conducted in closed session. This is due to the classified nature of the case materials. Tashiev is one of the prominent figures implicated in the case.

During the proceedings, former Bishkek Mayor Isa Omurkulov and ex-Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ibrahim Zhunusov were present as witnesses. Both had previously signed a document referred to as the "letter of 75," which is central to the case. The defense's push for transparency regarding the secret witnesses highlights a key point of contention in the trial.

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The defense insists that only the identities of witnesses can be classified, while their testimony must be available to participants in the process.