Trial Date Set For Ethnic Uzbeks In Kyrgyzstan

KARA-SUU, Kyrgyzstan -- The trial of 10 ethnic Uzbeks in the southern Kyrgyz village of Kara-Suu will resume on October 19, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

The trial was halted by Judge Bakyt Usupbekov on September 30 after relatives of the victims attacked the defendants' lawyer, Kair Asanov.

The defendants are charged with the murder of Kara-Suu district police chief Adylbek Sultanov and his driver, Uran Shamurzaev, in the village of Nariman during the violent clashes between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in June.

Relatives of the two men attacked the defendants' lawyer and forced him out of the court building after he stated that his clients were physically abused while in detention. Usupbekov then adjourned the trial.

Parliamentary elections will be held in Kyrgyzstan on October 10.