Accessibility links

Breaking News

Kyrgyz Prosecutors Seek Lengthy Prison Term For Ex-Prosecutor


Aida Salyanova says the charges against her are politically motivated.
Aida Salyanova says the charges against her are politically motivated.

BISHKEK -- Prosecutors at a high-profile trial in Kyrgyzstan are seeking an eight-year prison term for a former prosecutor-general accused of abuse of office.

The prosecutors asked a court in Bishkek on September 20 to deliver the sentence against Aida Salyanova, who is now an opposition lawmaker.

She is accused of illegally prolonging the license of a lawyer with links to former President Kurmanbek Bakiev's son, Maksim Bakiev, in 2010, when she served as prosecutor-general.

Salyanova told RFE/RL that her lawyers and herself proved her innocence during what she described as her politically motivated trial.

The probe against Salyanova, who is a member of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, was launched in March, days after party leader Omurbek Tekebaev was arrested on what his supporters say were trumped-up charges.

On August 16, Tekebaev, a former parliament speaker and once a close ally of President Almazbek Atambaev, was found guilty of bribe-taking and sentenced to eight years in prison.

His supporters say the conviction was aimed at preventing him from running in the October 15 presidential election.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG