A court in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, has allowed former parliament speaker Akmatbek Keldibekov, who is on trial for corruption, to receive urgent medical treatment abroad.
The Birinchi Mai District Court ruled on August 1 that Keldibekov can be transferred from pretrial detention to house arrest and travel to Germany for treatment on condition that he will return for trial later.
Keldibekov's trial has been postponed three times this year after he failed to appear in court allegedly due to his health condition.
A member of the opposition Ata-Jurt (Fatherland) party, Keldibekov is charged with abuse of office and financial crimes committed while he ran the State Social Fund and Tax Service.
He served as parliament speaker between 2010 and 2011.
Keldibekov's supporters have staged several public protests since his arrest in November, demanding his immediate release.
