A curious freedom
FELIKS KULOV, Kirgizstan's leading opposition figure, has been enjoying his freedom. After spending five months in jail awaiting trial on charges of abusing his position while minister of national security, the case against him was dismissed in August for lack of evidence. Human-rights groups hailed the verdict as “the only bright spot in a bleak human-rights situation.” It certainly seemed to be an encouraging sign in a country which once boasted of being the most democratic in Central Asia—not that there is a lot of competition—and then turned autocratic. But last week a military court annulled the acquittal and a retrial may follow. What is going on?
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “A curious freedom”
From the September 16th 2000 edition
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