Tears And Joy As Kyrgyz Court Acquits 27 Activists Charged Over Protest

A court in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, has acquitted 27 activists who were facing 20 years in prison for protesting a border deal with Uzbekistan. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence against the defendants, who were arrested in 2022 and charged with organizing mass unrest and plotting to seize power. Several rights groups have demanded their release and called the case "a shocking miscarriage of justice." Leaving the courthouse on June 14, activists welcomed the decision and thanked the press for focusing attention on the case.