Former Kyrgyz President Atambaev Removed From Courtroom For 'Disrupting Order'

BISHKEK -- Former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has been removed from the courtroom after he started kicking at the glass cage he was placed in during his trial on a charge of attempting to seize power during anti-government protests in October 2020.

The judge of the Birinchi Mai district court ordered bailiffs to remove Atambaev from the courtroom for "deliberately disrupting order in the courtroom." He later adjourned the trial until April 11.

Atambaev started shouting during the court hearing on April 8, saying that he has a medical condition and should not be present at the process, striking out with his leg several times.

Four days earlier, Atambaev said he felt sick, and the trial was adjourned after an ambulance arrived at the court to take the former president to receive medical care.

On April 5, Atambaev said he felt better but refused to testify at the trial.

The charge against Atambaev stems from his participation in anti-government rallies in October 2020 that were sparked by controversial parliamentary elections seen by many as rigged.

In the wake of the protests, Atambaev, who was then serving an 11-year prison term he was handed earlier that year for his role in the illegal release of a notorious crime boss, Aziz Batukaev, in 2013, was shortly released and along with several other politicians joined the protests. He was later rearrested.

The 65-year-old Atambaev, who denies any wrongdoing, was arrested in August 2019 after he surrendered to police following a deadly two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters.

The move to detain Atambaev was sparked by his refusal to obey three summons to appear at the Interior Ministry for questioning about Batukaev’s release.

The standoff between security forces and his supporters resulted in the death of a top security officer and more than 170 injuries -- 79 of them sustained by law enforcement officers.

Atambaev's other trial linked to the 2019 violence is also currently taking place as well. He and 13 others are charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting representatives of the authorities, hostage-taking, and the forcible seizure of power.