The first hearing is scheduled for August 20.

Askarbekov is charged under Article 330 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic — «Incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious or interregional hatred.» According to his lawyer, Erik Iriskulbekov, the case was initiated based on a linguistic examination of the activist’s Facebook posts.

Askarbekov was detained by officers of the State Committee for National Security on June 12. The following day, Leninsky District Court of Bishkek ordered his detention and placed him in the SCNS detention center.