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Kyrgyz Protesters Demand Release Of Opposition Leaders


Ata-Jurt party supporters rally outside the court in Bishkek. (file photo)
Ata-Jurt party supporters rally outside the court in Bishkek. (file photo)
OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- About 1,000 protesters have staged a protest in Kyrgyzstan's southern city of Jalal-Abad, demanding the immediate release of three jailed opposition members of parliament.

The demonstrators gathered in front of the provincial administration's offices on March 11.

They announced they would continue their protests until the three leaders of the Ata-Jurt (Homeland) party leaders were freed.

Kamchybek Tashiev, Sadyr Japarov, and Talant Mamytov are charged with provoking public unrest last year.

Authorities cited their role in violent protests in October 2012 by about 1,000 demonstrators in the capital, Bishkek, who were demanding the nationalization of the country's Kumtor gold mine.

The three politicians went on trial on January 10.

Last week, their supporters rallied in Jalal-Abad and two other Kyrgyz cities: Osh in the south and Karakol in the north.
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