Feliks Kulov, the ex-vice-president of the
Kyrgyz Republic, ex-Interior and National Security Minister, the leader of the Ar-Namis
Party and political challenger of President Akaev, was brought to trial along with three
ex-members of anti-terrorist center "Kalkan" in Bishkek on June 27, 2000. June
27 is also the date that the presidential race for the October 29 Presidential elections
officially opened. The trial is being held behind the closed doors in a Military court and
the streets along the courthouse are all surrounded by tight police security. Despite
national laws, representatives from the media, the OSCE and the International League on
People’s Rights are not allowed to attend the trial.

Despite a Presidential decree on the protection of journalists’ rights and media
laws stating that "representatives of the mass media have a right to attend legal
proceedings and hearings of court cases," the media is excluded from covering the
case. Likewise, although the law on the protection of state secrets states that
"facts regarding the violation of law by public servants and of the encroachment of
civil rights and interests cannot be kept secret," the whole trial of Feliks Kulov,
however, is being kept secret. Only one Kyrgyz newspaper has published a brief report but
it was barred from stating the facts of the trial. No other Kyrgyzstan newspaper has even
mentioned the trial.

Judge Ashimbek Uluu Nurlan, eight lawyers, three victims, and the Head of the Criminal
Investigation Department were present at the trial. Lawyers involved in the case argue
that since no state secrets are involved in the case there is no evidence that needs to be
kept from public knowledge. One of the defense lawyers commented that "by keeping the
trial process behind closed doors, it prevents people from learning that the accusations
are groundless". In front of the court building, behind a thick wall of police
security, approximately 100 picketers demand "Freedom to Kulov" and "Open
Trial".

Defendants have significant reasons to doubt the objectivity of the court. During the
first day of the trial, lawyers read petitions and applications but did not announce the
charges against the accused. The defendants do not even know what they were charged with.
At the end of the first day’s hearing, Feliks Kulov asked the judge, "Why have
you not let anyone, particularly the protestors outside the courthouse, know what is going
on in the trial? Give us the verdict that you have already arrived at." One of the
defense lawyers stated in disgust that "This trial will be marked in our
nation’s history as shameful, showing that in the government struggle, power in
Kyrgyzstan’s judicial system is being wielded shamelessly".

Anonymous, Bishkek