Government of Kyrgyzstan decided to improve the cooperation with Russia. Otherwise, why would the Republic extradite to Russia Russian public activists, who fled their country, fearing repressions. Supposedly, the new facial recognition system helps Kyrgyz enforcers identify and apprehend Russian oppositionists. Aware of that, Russia submitted to Kyrgyz authorities personal data of thousands of wanted Russian citizens.

In last ten days, Kyrgyz enforcers took three Russian runaways in custody. Two of them earlier officially sought refuge in Kyrgyzstan. One of them has already been extradited back to Russia …

Apprehension in Broad Daylight

Ms. Aliona Krylova was one such apprehended by Kyrgyz enforcers. Before relocation to Kyrgyzstan, she was the press-secretary of the Russian Movement For Human Rights. On the 12^th of June, she was put into a Kyrgyz detention center. According to sources, she will be held there until the 4^th of July. 

Why was she wanted? Open sources report, that she was a member of the Leftist Resistance Movement.  The movement was officially acknowledged extremist, which made Aliona and five more individuals extremists, willing to undermine the reputation of the Russian authorities and conflicting with the Russian police. 

Following the passing of the Kyrgyzstan border control, Aliona immediately filed a petition to give her asylum. Formally, she cannot be deported, until local authorities give her official answer of any kind. Aliona’s Defender shared information that earlier Kyrgyzstan ratified the UN Convention on Refugees. In case, Kyrgyzstan rejects Aliona’s petition regarding asylum, there will be grounds to conclude that other Russian oppositions activists will also be deprived from protection in Kyrgyzstan.

The above may become a common practice. Lev Skoriakin, another Russian activist, was apprehended by Kyrgyz police in the broad daylight, after being identified by CCTV facial recognition system. Which means, that Kyrgyz police know exactly who is wanted by the Russian enforcers.

Remarkable is the fact, that anonymous sources report, that Skoriakin did not even take part in anti-governmental public activities, which fact makes his apprehension odd. His case is a fabrication. 

Door-to-Door Delivery

Alexey Rozhkov was the one, who was deported back to Russia. He was among the first ones to oppose the Russo-Ukrainian war. He was the one who put a Military Drafts Station on fire. Fearing repressions, Alexey fled to Kyrgyzstan.

He spent several days in the country, following which police detectives came to his rented flat. Human rights activists report that there were 5 to 6 police detectives arresting Alexey. They did not explain the reason for the arrest. They took him to a police station, where they threatened to torture him. It sounded persuasive, because Alexey heard people screaming in other rooms and cells. 

He was deported. Alexey’s colleagues think, that his apprehension was possible, due to CCTV facial recognition.

Ain’t No Country For Runaways

Russian human rights activists report that since the beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan acquired cutting-edge CCTV technologies.

That is why, the quest for people became so fast. In the past, Kyrgyz police could not boast such effectivity.

First facial recognition cams appeared in Kyrgyzstan in 2019, but that was not a mass phenomenon. The supplier is a Chinese company, which delivered 60 cams to Bishkek. 20 of them have facial recognition function. In autumn 2021, facial recognition cams appeared in Osk, Tokmak, Kant and Jalal-Abad.

Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Interior reports than in the period of 13 June-23 June, those cams identified 57 individuals, including 4 expatriates, involved in attempted murders, petty crime, documental forgery and extremism. 

Among them, there are Russian anti-war activists. That is why those, who fled repressions for personal opinion, cannot feel safe in Kyrgyzstan. First of all, because the UN Convention on Refugees does not work there. Secondly – because they have very effective CCTV …