From left to right: Temirlan Sultanbekov, Irina Karamushkina, and Roza Turksever. Photo via Kloop.kg Telegram channel
Temirlan Sultanbekov, leader of Kyrgyzstan’s Social Democrats party, along with his allies Irina Karamushkina and Roza Turksever, have been sentenced to three years of probationary supervision. The ruling was handed down on April 24 by the Sverdlovsk District Court in Bishkek, according to Kloop.kg.
The hearing was held behind closed doors.
Defense attorney Aybek Turduyev condemned the verdict as unlawful, asserting that the prosecution failed to provide any evidence proving the defendants' guilt.
“Of course, we will appeal this decision,” Turduyev said. “Frankly, we did not expect such a verdict. Had the court followed the law, all defendants would have been acquitted.”
Sultanbekov confirmed his intention to appeal the ruling.
👉 Probationary supervision is a legal alternative to imprisonment that allows convicted individuals to remain free under court-ordered conditions. They are required to regularly meet with a probation officer and follow specific mandates such as maintaining employment, attending school, or undergoing treatment.
Sultanbekov, Karamushkina, and Turksever were initially placed in pretrial detention at Bishkek’s SIZO-1 facility following a decision by the Sverdlovsk court on November 15, 2024. The three were charged with vote buying ahead of municipal council elections. Additional accusations later included violations of campaign finance laws and fraud. The investigation began after the release of an audio recording purportedly capturing members of the Social Democrats discussing plans to buy votes. Following the launch of the criminal case, Bishkek’s territorial election commission removed the Social Democrats from the city council elections. In late February 2025, the case against Sultanbekov and his associates was classified.
