BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz authorities have added an abuse of office charge against jailed former President Almazbek Atambaev over deadly ethnic clashes in 2010 that claimed almost 450 lives.
Atambaev's lawyer, Zamir Jooshev, told RFE/RL on June 1 that although the charge was serious, its legality was questionable due to the statute of limitations, adding that an official statement regarding the new charge against his client will be made public later.
Atambaev is currently serving an 11-year prison term he was handed in 2020 for his role in the illegal release of a notorious crime boss, Aziz Batukaev.
He was leading an interim government when clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks shook the Central Asian country's southern regions of Osh and Jalal-Abad in June 2010, following anti-government protests that toppled then-President Kurmanbek Bakiev.
According to Kyrgyz officials, 446 men and women were killed in the ethnic clashes, known as the "June events," about 2,000 people were injured, and tens of thousands were displaced.
The majority of the victims were ethnic Uzbeks.
Last month, three Kyrgyz politicians who were members of the interim government were also charged with abuse of office over the "June events."
Atambaev is currently involved in two other trials.
One trial is over a charge of attempting to seize power during anti-government protests in October 2020 that were sparked by controversial parliamentary elections seen by many as rigged.
Atambaev was released during the protests and joined them along with several other politicians. He was later rearrested.
He also is part of another trial linked to two days of violence at his compound near Bishkek that was sparked by his refusal to obey three summons to appear at the Interior Ministry for questioning about Batukaev's release.
The 2019 standoff between security forces and his supporters resulted in the death of a senior security officer and more than 170 injuries -- 79 of them sustained by law enforcement officers.
SEE ALSO: Kyrgyzstan Confiscates Jailed Ex-President's Compound Near BishkekIn that case, the 65-year-old former president and 13 others are charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting official representatives, hostage taking, and the forcible seizure of power.