Jailed Kyrgyz Politician’s Wife Remanded in Custody on Corruption Charge

The Bishkek City Court has rejected an appeal filed by Salkynai Alimbaeva, the wife of jailed Kyrgyz opposition politician Ravshan Jeenbekov, against her pretrial detention. Alimbaeva was arrested in late May on charges related to the alleged illegal purchase of two parcels of land in Bishkek last year. Alimbaeva insists that the charges are ungrounded. Alimbaeva’s husband was arrested along with more than 20 opposition politicians, activists, and journalists in October last year over their protest against a controversial border deal with Uzbekistan. They were accused of planning riots, a charge they reject as politically motivated.