The Chui regional court in northern Kyrgyzstan on April 8 rejected an appeal by a man who was handed a 20-year prison sentence in January for severely beating his ex-wife and cutting off her nose and ears. Azamat Estebesov was convicted of torture, rape, attempted murder, violation of privacy, and inflicting serious bodily harm. The case caused a public outcry and numerous rallies were held calling on the government to curb domestic violence. Rights activists launched an online petition demanding life in prison for Estebesov. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.
Kyrgyz Man Who Mutilated Ex-Wife Jailed For 20 Years
Azamat Estebesov (center) is escorted by police in January.