[xtypo_dropcap]H[/xtypo_dropcap]earings started for former top Kyrgyz officials, in a packed courtroom on Wednesday, accused of being responsible for the deaths of protesters in the April coup in Kyrgyzstan.
The violent clashes that erupted in early April caused over 85 deaths and led to the deposing of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev who later fled to Belarus.
The ousted president and five others will be tried in absentia, according to Radio Free Europe.
The remaining 22 defendants include many high-ranking officials, some of whom are on an international wanted list, plus officers of the alfa special forces department, and some former officials from the national security service. They are charged with exceeding official authority using violence and killing.
Early this month, Kyrgyz officials had sentenced the nephew of former President Bakiyev to 10 years in prison. Bakiyev’s son Maksim was granted asylum status in London, according to Kyrgyz news agency AKI Press.
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva, who assumed power in the coup, claims she has brought the country more stability since violent clashes in the south of the country in June between Kyrgyz and Uzbek people caused hundreds of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The violent clashes that erupted in early April caused over 85 deaths and led to the deposing of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev who later fled to Belarus.
The ousted president and five others will be tried in absentia, according to Radio Free Europe.
The remaining 22 defendants include many high-ranking officials, some of whom are on an international wanted list, plus officers of the alfa special forces department, and some former officials from the national security service. They are charged with exceeding official authority using violence and killing.
Early this month, Kyrgyz officials had sentenced the nephew of former President Bakiyev to 10 years in prison. Bakiyev’s son Maksim was granted asylum status in London, according to Kyrgyz news agency AKI Press.
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva, who assumed power in the coup, claims she has brought the country more stability since violent clashes in the south of the country in June between Kyrgyz and Uzbek people caused hundreds of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands.
