Kyrgyzstan "Letter of 75" Trial: Parliament Staff Testify on Document's Contents

The trial for the so-called "letter of 75" is ongoing in Bishkek's Pervomaysky District Court. The case involves former State Committee for National Security head Kamchybek Tashiev, ex-Prosecutor General Kurmanul Zulueshev, and former Jogorku Kenesh speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, among others. The court allowed media to film the proceedings and considered a request to change the pre-trial detention for Emilbek Uzakbaev due to deteriorating health, with his lawyers advocating for medical examination and non-custodial measures.

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The document arrived in the Jogorku Kenesh on February 11 and was registered.

Following lunch, the court began examining the case on its merits and hearing witnesses. Employees from the Jogorku Kenesh parliament testified about the letter's arrival and registration. One employee stated the document arrived on February 11 and was registered, noting the speaker was on a business trip and gave no instructions. Another consultant mentioned the letter initially lacked an addressee, preventing registration until a supervisor contacted an unknown man to add it.

A parliamentary staffer testified that the letter reached the relevant committee on February 13 and was removed from the agenda by February 18. She stated the document proposed early elections and the premature termination of presidential powers. It was revealed that the letter was delivered to the Jogorku Kenesh by the driver of Emilbek Uzakbaev.

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The letter initially arrived without an addressee, which made its registration impossible.

Last week, the court declassified the case materials, and this June 15 session is the first to be held in public. The criminal case stems from the "letter of 75," an appeal by politicians and public figures that investigators allege contained calls for a change of power. The accused face charges of preparing for a violent seizure of power and abuse of official position.

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The document contained a proposal for early elections and the early termination of presidential powers.