Kyrgyzstan: Topchubek Turgunaliyev

Index Number: EUR 58/004/1997
Date Published: 10 January 1997
Categories: Europe And Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

Topchubek Turgunaliyev, Co-Chairman of the Erkin Kyrgyzstan ("Free Kyrgyzstan") opposition party and former prisoner of conscience, was sentenced on 8 January 1997 to ten years' imprisonment by a court in Bishkek on charges of "theft of state property" and "abuse of authority". There is concern that these charges are without foundation and that he may have been punished for his non-violent opposition activities.