Former Kyrgyz president sentenced in absentia to over 11 years in prison

Former President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev has been sentenced in absentia to 11 years and 6 months in prison, along with the confiscation of his property and the revocation of his state awards, following the conclusion of the high-profile trial related to the 2019 Koi-Tash events.

The verdict was handed down by Bishkek’s Pervomaisky District Court, marking a dramatic legal chapter in Kyrgyzstan’s recent political history, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kyrgyz media.

Atambayev, who did not attend the hearings, was convicted on charges stemming from a violent standoff with law enforcement in August 2019.

The confrontation occurred in the village of Koi-Tash, when special forces of the State National Security Committee (GKNB) attempted to detain Atambayev. The operation escalated into clashes between the security forces and Atambayev’s supporters, resulting in injuries and significant unrest. The incident triggered a criminal investigation, culminating in charges against 14 individuals.

Among those tried alongside Atambayev were several prominent political figures, including former members of parliament Asel Koduranova, Ravshan Dzheenbekov, and Irina Karamushkina; former head of the presidential administration Farid Niyazov; and Kanat Sagymbaev, ex-employee of the Ninth Service of the State Committee for National Security.

Over time, the Koi-Tash case was consolidated with multiple other high-profile investigations, including corruption allegations involving the TNC Dastan company, mismanagement and graft in the construction of the Bishkek Thermal Power Plant (CHPP), and the illegal sale of forestry (Leskhoz) lands.

By Vafa Guliyeva