Kyrgyz court rules to keep ex-president in custody

The Bishkek City Court has ruled to keep Kyrgyzstan’s former President Almazbek Atambayev in custody, a TASS correspondent reported from the office of the country’s State National Security Committee where a court hearing had been held.

Bishkek’s Pervomaisky District Court earlier put Atambayev in custody until August 26.

"The Bishkek City Court has violated a number of legislative acts by making this decision, including those concerning guarantees for the ex-president," Atambayev’s lawyer Sergei Slesarev said.

Atambayev, stripped of immunity, was detained in a special operation on August 8. The operation lasted almost 24 hours as law enforcement officers faced strong resistance from Atambayev’s supporters defending his residence in the settlement of Koi-Tash. A special forces soldier was killed in the operation, while over 100 people suffered injuries.