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Kyrgyz Court Fully Exonerates Former Defense Minister


Ismail Isakov attends a news conference held by opposition leaders in Bishkek on April 8.
Ismail Isakov attends a news conference held by opposition leaders in Bishkek on April 8.
BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz military court has fully exonerated former Defense Minister Ismail Isakov, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Isakov was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to eight years in prison on January 11.

He had pleaded not guilty and insisted that his case was politically motivated because of he joined the opposition to President Kurmanbek Bakiev.

Opposition leaders freed Isakov from prison after Bakiev fled the capital following violent clashes between security forces and antigovernment protesters on April 7.

Isakov's government awards and military insignia -- including the rank of general -- that were stripped from him by the military court in January were returned to him.

Isakov is currently the acting defense minister in the self-declared interim government. He was defense minister under Bakiev from 2005-08, when he joined the opposition.
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