The trial of six defendants in the so-called Milli Mejlis case ended on 6 August 1993, with their receiving conditional sentences for “conspiracy to seize power”. This meant the release of three defendants who had been in detention before and during the trial, who were considered prisoners of conscience: Babur Shakirov, Khazratkul Khudayberdi and Salavat Umurzakov. It was reported shortly afterwards that all except Babur Shakirov were appealing against their convictions. On 17 August Pulat Akhunov, a probable prisoner of conscience, who was already serving an 18-month sentence on allegedly fabricated charges, was sentenced to a further three years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of narcotics and assault. These charges were also allegedly fabricated.
