Kyrgyzstan Convicts Four For Protesting Campaign Manager’s Arrest

BALYKCHI, Kyrgyzstan -- A court in the northeastern Kyrgyz town of Balykchi has sentenced four people to four years in jail each for holding an illegal protest during last July's presidential elections.

Some 1,000 people gathered in Balykchi on July 23 to protest the detention of the local campaign manager of opposition candidate Almaz Atambaev. Police used percussion grenades and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Atambaev was in Balykchi today attending the trial. He said the court decision was politically motivated and that he would whatever possible to free the four convicted people.