A Kyrgyz court has found the former mayor of Bishkek, Nariman Tuleev, guilty of corruption and sentenced him to 11 years in prison.
Several former senior officials of the Bishkek city administration were also convicted on July 30 on similar charges and given sentences of five to 13 years.
Tuleev says the charges against him were politically motivated.
He served as Bishkek mayor under former President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was ousted after a popular uprising in 2010.
Tuleev later became a member of parliament for the opposition Ata-Jurt party.
He ran for president in 2011 but pulled out of the race ahead of the vote.
He was arrested in June 2012 and charged with corruption and mismanagement while in office, which prosecutors say cost the state $1.4 million.
Several former senior officials of the Bishkek city administration were also convicted on July 30 on similar charges and given sentences of five to 13 years.
Tuleev says the charges against him were politically motivated.
He served as Bishkek mayor under former President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was ousted after a popular uprising in 2010.
Tuleev later became a member of parliament for the opposition Ata-Jurt party.
He ran for president in 2011 but pulled out of the race ahead of the vote.
He was arrested in June 2012 and charged with corruption and mismanagement while in office, which prosecutors say cost the state $1.4 million.
