Acquitted Kyrgyz Opposition Leaders' Case To Be Reviewed

Kyrgyz opposition deputies Kamchybek Tashiev (center), Sadyr Japarov (left), and Talant Mamytov address a press conference in Bishkek last month.

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court will review the case of three opposition lawmakers who were acquitted last month on charges that they attempted to overthrow the government.

The Supreme Court's press service said on July 12 that new hearings on the case will start on July 16.

The three leaders of the opposition Ata-Jurt (Fatherland) party -- Kamchybek Tashiev, Sadyr Japarov, and Talant Mamytov -- were originally sentenced in March to prison terms between one year and 18 months.

They were arrested in October for their role in violent antigovernment protests in Bishkek.

The three were acquitted by an appeals court last month shortly after their supporters assaulted the judges during a court session.

The Bishkek city prosecutor appealed the court's acquittal last week.