Kyrgyz Ex-President Atambaev's Pretrial Detention Extended Until April 7

BISHKEK — A court in Bishkek has extended the pretrial detention of former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev until April 7.

Atambaev’s lawyer Zamir Jooshev told RFE/RL that the Birinchi Mai district court, on February 4, again rejected the defense team’s motion to transfer the 64-year-old politician to house arrest.

Atambaev was sentenced to 11 years and two months in prison in June 2020 over his involvement in the release of a notorious crime boss.

In November, the Supreme Court sent the case back to a Bishkek district court for retrial. The reason for the decision was not immediately given.

Atambaev has denied any wrongdoing.

In early October, he was released from custody as the country was rocked by mass protests against the official results of parliamentary elections.

He was rearrested four days later and charged with organizing an illegal demonstration.

Atambaev was initially arrested in August 2019 after he surrendered to police following a deadly two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters that led to the death of a top security officer and more than 170 injured.

The former president and 13 other people were charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting representatives of the authorities, hostage taking, and the forcible seizure of power.

A trial on those charges has yet to be held.