Valerian Vakhitov
Valerian Vakhitov is a human rights lawyer and member of the Osh branch of Bir Duino - Kyrgyzstan (One World), a human rights organisation that defends the freedom of association and political space for human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan through legal support, culture and arts. It organises an annual human rights documentary film festival in Kyrgyzstan.
Human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan continue to be subjected to harassment, and face restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association. Family members of human rights defenders also face threats, harassment and persecution. The authorities systematically fail to investigate these incidents and to bring those responsible to justice. In several cases, perpetrators operate with the complicity of law enforcement agents.
