Muzaffar Suleymanov/CPJ Europe and Central Asia Senior Research Associate
Muzaffar Suleymanov, research associate for CPJ's Europe and Central Asia Program, has a master’s degree in international peace studies from the U.N. University for Peace in San Jose, Costa Rica.
![A human rights body has called for the release of Azimjon Askarov, pictured with bruising caused while in custody. A report found his arrest and trial unjust and evidence that the journalist was tortured. (Nurbek Toktakunov)](https://cpj-preprod.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Askarov-Bruised.jpg?w=500&h=375&crop=1)
Kyrgyzstan must free jailed journalist Azimjon Askarov, UN committee says
In a milestone decision announced today in Geneva, the U.N. Human Rights Committee called on Kyrgyzstan to immediately release Azimjon Askarov, a journalist sentenced to life in prison in September 2010. The U.N. body issued its decision after reviewing a complaint filed in November 2012 by Askarov’s lawyer, Nurbek Toktakunov, and a team of experts…