BISHKEK -- The Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General's Office has closed a criminal case against opposition leader Omurbek Tekebaev, who was charged last month with illegal weapons possession, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
The office said that the case against Tekebaev has been dropped because no crime was committed. Tekebaev may still be investigated in accordance with a law against bringing a weapon to a peaceful gathering.
Tekebaev, leader of the Ata-Meken (Fatherland) Socialist Party, was organizing a series of party conferences in the northwest Talas region on January 17-18 when his car was stopped and searched by the police, who charged him with carrying an illegal weapon.
Tekebaev said the charges were politically motivated and that he had a license for the guns.
Meanwhile, earlier on February 6, several elderly politicians and military veterans met with State Secretary Dosbol Nur-uulu and urged Kyrgyz officials to end what they called the practice of bringing politically motivated charges against opposition leaders.
The office said that the case against Tekebaev has been dropped because no crime was committed. Tekebaev may still be investigated in accordance with a law against bringing a weapon to a peaceful gathering.
Tekebaev, leader of the Ata-Meken (Fatherland) Socialist Party, was organizing a series of party conferences in the northwest Talas region on January 17-18 when his car was stopped and searched by the police, who charged him with carrying an illegal weapon.
Tekebaev said the charges were politically motivated and that he had a license for the guns.
Meanwhile, earlier on February 6, several elderly politicians and military veterans met with State Secretary Dosbol Nur-uulu and urged Kyrgyz officials to end what they called the practice of bringing politically motivated charges against opposition leaders.