Disclosure of personal data that is protected by law violates human rights.

70 sex workers were detained during a raid organized by the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.

The State Committee for National Security distributed photographs of all detained sex workers and their personal information via mailing to the media.

According to a press release from the State Committee for National Security, these are “preventive measures.”

However, human rights activists pointed out that this approach towards sex workers is unlawful. Legal experts explain that detained women can only be considered as victims or witnesses.

According to the Kyrgyzstan’s law, sex work  is not criminalized, but organizing and engaging in this activity may be criminally punishable.

“We don’t know all the circumstances due to which these women become sex workers. Maybe they were forced, somehow forced, blackmailed, that is, they could be victims,” Zulfiya Kochorbaeva, a gender activist, told Kaktus.media. - Such statements from the State Committee for National Security are accusatory in nature, and we can only be recognized as accused by a court decision”.

 In this case, there is also a violation of criminal procedural legislation, because while the investigation is ongoing, the data of witnesses cannot be disclosed at all, Kochorbaeva added.