The former president of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev, has expressed his readiness to face trial before an international court on the charges against him.
"President Sadyr Japarov said as if the interim government is afraid of an open court process in the Bakiyev case. He has accused me of many other crimes, ranging from corruption to murder. Therefore, I propose a clear step to the officials: Ratify the Rome Statute and instruct the Prosecutor General's Office to apply to the International Court. I am ready to personally participate in the trial and respond to all charges," he wrote on his social media page.
Atambayev has suggested to the government to release all participants of the Koi-Tash events, as he believes this case is fabricated.
"I appeal to the country's leadership: do not stoop so low, do not be so petty - release all the innocent people who are being illegitimately held in prisons and conditionally, actually 'hostages' in the Koi-Tash case and other fabricated criminal cases. These people are being punished merely for defending their rights and dreaming of a just Kyrgyzstan. Their further detention would be a disgrace for the state and government, and for the country's leader. If the government wants justice, it should not be afraid of an international tribunal. If The Hague finds me guilty, I am ready to spend any term behind bars," Atambayev said.
On June 3, the Pervomaisky district court in Bishkek sentenced the country's former president, Almazbek Atambayev, to 11 years and 6 months in prison in absentia, along with the confiscation of his property. Additionally, the former head of the president's office, Farid Niyazov, and the former parliament deputy, Ravshan Jeenbekov, were sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison and were taken into custody in the courtroom.
On August 7, 2019, near the village of Koi-Tash outside Bishkek, special forces of the National Security State Committee of Kyrgyzstan (GKNB) "Alfa" group attempted to forcefully detain Atambayev, and this turned into an armed confrontation with supporters of the former state leader. One of the special forces soldiers was killed by gunfire. Six fighters of “Alfa” were captured and released the next day. On August 8, 2019, during another attempt by special forces to detain the former state leader, confrontations continued. Following this, Atambayev surrendered to the Kyrgyz law enforcement officers and was detained. During the events of August 7-8, 225 people, including 91 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and 40 employees of the National Security State Committee, were injured.
