The Bishkek City Court on December 27 rejected an appeal filed by United Kyrgyzstan opposition party leader Adakhan Madumarov against his pretrial arrest. Madumarov, a major opponent of President Sadyr Japarov, was arrested in September and charged with "ignoring Kyrgyzstan's interests" for signing a Kyrgyz-Tajik border deal in 2009 when he led the country's Security Council. Madumarov has said the move is politically motivated and is punishment for his criticism of the authorities. On December 8, a court in Bishkek extended his pretrial detention until at least February 9, 2024. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.