BISHKEK, January 25 (RIA Novosti) - A district court in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on Friday turned down a request on behalf of opposition leaders, who are on trial on attempted coup charges, to be taken out of prison and be put under house arrest, judge Adylbek Subankulov said.
Defense lawyers requested that the defendants be put under home arrest for health reasons.
The trial of a group of leading opposition figures, including parliament spokesman Kamchibek Tashiyev, vice speaker Talant Mamytov and former chief military prosecutor Kubatbek Kozhonaliyev began on January 10. The hearings were adjourned after the judge recused himself, granting a request by the defense team.
Prosecutors believe the officials were part of a group of protestors who clashed with security guards in an attempt to break through parliament security cordons during a rally in October 2012. Police fired tear gas and stun grenades, leaving 12 people injured.
The opposition leaders face from 12 to 20 years in prison if convicted. They denied all charges against them as politically motivated.
