RFE
12 Sep 2019, 17:45 GMT+10
BISHKEK -- A court in Bishkek has started the retrial of two Kyrgyz opposition politicians, Omurbek Tekebaev and Duishonkul Chotonov, who had been transferred to house arrest in late August after their convictions were struck down.
The Birinchi Mai district court started the retrial of the high-profile case on September 12 with the judge telling journalists they can record audio, but not video, of the proceedings.
Tekebaev and Chotonov were released from custody on August 29, eight days after Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court canceled guilty verdicts against the two and sent their cases back to the court, citing 'newly revealed circumstances.'
In 2017, Tekebaev and his co-defendant, former Emergency Situations Minister Chotonov, were convicted of bribe-taking and sentenced to eight years in prison each. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Their lawyers filed the appeal to revise the case saying they had evidence showing that a key witness, Russian businessman Leonid Mayevsky, had lied during the trial.
Tekebaev is the leader of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, which has insisted that the case was a politically motivated effort to keep him out of a presidential vote in October 2017.
Tekebaev was arrested in February 2017, months after he turned into a vocal critic of then-President Almazbek Atambaev.
The court's decision to revise the case came less than two weeks after Atambaev was arrested on August 8 after he surrendered to police following a violent two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters.
Kyrgyz authorities had initially said that Atambaev faced five counts of criminally abusing his office during his 2011-17 term.
After the violent standoff, which resulted in the death of a security officer and more than 170 injuries, additional charges were filed against the ex-president; these include using violence against representatives of the authorities, organizing mass unrest, masterminding a murder attempt, hostage taking, and illegal use of firearms.
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Manufacturing Mirror news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Manufacturing Mirror.
More InformationPatna (Bihar) [India], July 6 (ANI): Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan visited the residence of businessman Gopal Khemka, who was shot...
The billionaire has vowed to give freedom back to the people and accused the US elites of bankrupting the nation ...
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5 (ANI): Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Saturday raised concerns over the rising crime incidents...
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5 (ANI): BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad on Saturday said he was 'saddened' over the murder of businessman...
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday met the family of businessman Gopal...
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has hit back at opposition parties in Bihar...
FRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Elon Musk's success has been built on government subsidies. Without...
(Photo credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images) Yohel Pozo hit a pinch three-run homer to lift the visiting St. Louis Cardinals past...
(Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images) The Chicago Cubs set a franchise record by bashing eight home runs in a single game...
(Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images) The Los Angeles Dodgers had a full night Wednesday, watching Clayton Kershaw record...