BISHKEK -- Some 150 protesters picketed the Kyrgyz parliament today demanding that the trial of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev and 27 of his closest associates and relatives should end before President Roza Otunbaeva's term expires, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Representatives of the nongovernmental groups and movements April's Heroes, the Homeland's Martyrs, and Generous Ala-Too Mountains were among the protesters.
Bakiev, who fled the country for Belarus following antigovernment protests, and 27 of his former associates, including some of his relatives, are being tried -- most in absentia -- for giving the command to security forces to shoot at unarmed protesters.
Otunbaeva took over the leadership of the country after Bakiev was toppled in April 2010. Her current presidential term expires in autumn and she officially stated earlier this year that she will not seek another term as president.
Almost 90 people were killed in the clashes between protesters and security forces in Bishkek on April 7, 2010.
Bakiev's trial has been postponed several times. Earlier this month, it was postponed indefinitely after the former president's lawyer demanded the presiding judge be replaced.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
Representatives of the nongovernmental groups and movements April's Heroes, the Homeland's Martyrs, and Generous Ala-Too Mountains were among the protesters.
Bakiev, who fled the country for Belarus following antigovernment protests, and 27 of his former associates, including some of his relatives, are being tried -- most in absentia -- for giving the command to security forces to shoot at unarmed protesters.
Otunbaeva took over the leadership of the country after Bakiev was toppled in April 2010. Her current presidential term expires in autumn and she officially stated earlier this year that she will not seek another term as president.
Almost 90 people were killed in the clashes between protesters and security forces in Bishkek on April 7, 2010.
Bakiev's trial has been postponed several times. Earlier this month, it was postponed indefinitely after the former president's lawyer demanded the presiding judge be replaced.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
