BISHKEK -- The Kyrgyz parliament has approved a proposal to strip deputy Kubanychbek Kadyrov of his immunity, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Kadyrov, a member of the opposition Social Democratic Party, was officially accused by the prosecutor-general of organizing a mass disorder in the northern town of Balykchy during the controversial July 23 presidential election.
Seventy-six of the 90 deputies voted for lifting Kadyrov's immunity, with only members of the Social Democrats opposing.
Social Democratic Party deputy and former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva says the move to lift Kadyrov's immunity is another sign of the increasingly repressive measures against the opposition.
Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General Elmurza Satylbadiev told RFE/RL that the move was made because Kadyrov missed a meeting with an investigator in the case.
Meanwhile, Social Democratic Party leader Almaz Atambaev says the prosecutor-general's accusations against Kadyrov are baseless.
Fourteen Kyrgyz politicians and activists were arrested in Balykchy on July 23 and charged with publicly calling for the overthrow of the government, organizing a mass disorder, and violent resistance to police.
The lawyers for the accused and opposition activists say the case is politically motivated.
Kadyrov, a member of the opposition Social Democratic Party, was officially accused by the prosecutor-general of organizing a mass disorder in the northern town of Balykchy during the controversial July 23 presidential election.
Seventy-six of the 90 deputies voted for lifting Kadyrov's immunity, with only members of the Social Democrats opposing.
Social Democratic Party deputy and former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva says the move to lift Kadyrov's immunity is another sign of the increasingly repressive measures against the opposition.
Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General Elmurza Satylbadiev told RFE/RL that the move was made because Kadyrov missed a meeting with an investigator in the case.
Meanwhile, Social Democratic Party leader Almaz Atambaev says the prosecutor-general's accusations against Kadyrov are baseless.
Fourteen Kyrgyz politicians and activists were arrested in Balykchy on July 23 and charged with publicly calling for the overthrow of the government, organizing a mass disorder, and violent resistance to police.
The lawyers for the accused and opposition activists say the case is politically motivated.