The Bishkek City Court has begun hearing an appeal in the «Letter of 75» case.

The defendants include well-known politicians: former State Committee for National Security (SCNS) chief Kamchybek Tashiev, Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu and former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev. Five people who signed an appeal to the president calling for early elections are also defendants in the case: Bekbolot Talgarbekov, Kursan Asanov, Kurmanbek Dyikanbaev, Aaly Karashev and Emil Uzakbaev.

In early July, the Pervomaisky District Court found all the defendants guilty of attempting to seize power by force and sentenced each of them to four years in prison with confiscation of property. However, the prison sentences were replaced with three years of probation supervision.

The verdict was appealed by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the defendants’ lawyers.

The appeal hearing is being held behind closed doors. Former Prosecutor General Kurmankul Zulushev, one of the defendants, declined to answer journalists’ questions before the proceedings began. He said he would speak to the media if the court decided to hold the hearings in public.

«Let it begin first, then we will provide information. If it is open, we will give information,» he said.

Former SCNS chief Kamchybek Tashiev also arrived at the court hearing.