Prague, 12 February 1997 (RFE/RL) - School teachers in the town of Tokmok in the Chui region appealed yesterday to the president, the parliament and the Supreme Court in a bid to get their back wages.
According to a letter sent by the teachers, Tokmok's teachers have not received their salaries since September 1996. Tokmok's teachers say they will have to begin a general strike soon if the problem is not resolved.
Human Rights Movement To Protest Opposition Politician's Sentence
The chairman of the Human Rights Movement of Kyrgyzstan told our correspondent yesterday that the Movement will picket in front of the government and the Supreme Court buildings in Bishkek to protest the sentencing of a prominent opposition politician.
Tursunbek Akunov said protesters will picket the buildings on February 17 and 18. The Supreme Court will consider the case of Topchubek Turgunaliev, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison last month. TurgunAliyev was accused of embezzlement, but the opposition says the trial against him was politically motivated.
Human Rights Watch/Helsinki sent a letter to President Askar Akayev last month, asking he and the Supreme Court to work together to overturn the verdict. Turgunaliev's lawyers have appealed the sentence to the Supreme Court.