Kyrgyz MP Demands Arrest of Defendants in ‘Letter 75’ Trial

A Kyrgyz lawmaker has called for the defendants in the high-profile “Letter 75” case to be taken into custody, accusing them of intimidating a parliamentary colleague who testified as a witness. MP Nurbek Sydygaliyev criticized the behavior of former State National Security Committee (SCNS) head Kamchybek Tashiyev and former Speaker Kurmankul Zulushev during a court hearing on June 15, alleging that they subjected MP Elvira Surabaldiyeva to psychological pressure and an unlawful interrogation.

Sydygaliyev stressed that Kyrgyzstan is a rule-of-law state where the law applies equally to all citizens, including lawmakers. He asserted that Surabaldiyeva’s appearance in court without invoking parliamentary immunity demonstrated the principle of equality before the law. However, he expressed outrage that Tashiyev and Zulushev attempted to dominate the witness, constituting what he described as a violation of criminal procedure rules.

“The Criminal Procedure Code clearly regulates the conduct of all participants in the process, and the presiding judge is obliged to ensure equal opportunities for the parties,” Sydygaliyev stated. He argued that the judge should have intervened to enforce legal provisions but failed to do so. The MP also took issue with a remark by defense lawyer Akynbek Nogoev, who noted that the alleged organizers of the “Letter 75” remain free while only those accused of facilitation are in custody.

Responding to this, Sydygaliyev said he cannot assess the work of law enforcement or the judiciary, but expressed the view that custody should be applied to all eight defendants given the gravity of the charges. “The law should work equally for everyone,” he added.

Eight individuals are implicated in the case: Kamchybek Tashiyev, former Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, MP Kurmankul Zulushev, and public figures Bekbolot Talgarbekov, Aaly Karashev, Kursan Asanov, Emilbek Uzakbaev, and Kurmanbek Dyikanbaev. The final five are currently under arrest.