Kyrgyz Supreme Court upholds detention of opposition leader
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 29 March 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kyrgyz Supreme Court upholds detention of opposition leader, 29 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a6cea.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 29, 2017
Ata-Meken party leader Omurbek Tekebaev is running for president.
Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court has upheld the order for the detention of opposition party leader Omurbek Tekebaev, who has been in custody since his arrest in late February on suspicion of bribe taking and fraud.
Dozens of Tekebaev supporters demonstrated outside the Supreme Court building in Bishkek during the hearing on March 29, demanding his release.
On February 27, a Bishkek court ordered Tekebaev, the leader of the opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party, held in pretrial custody until April 25.
His supporters say the investigation is politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from running for president in November.
On March 5, Ata-Meken named Tekebaev, a vocal critic of President Almazbek Atambaev, as its candidate in the presidential election.
The Kyrgyz Constitution bars Atambaev from running for reelection, and opponents accuse him of seeking to maintain a hold on power through constitutional changes that were backed in a December referendum.
With reporting by Knews.kg
Link to original story on RFE/RL website