Three former high-ranking state officials in Kyrgyzstan were sentenced to four years in prison each for attempting a coup, but their sentences were later converted to conditional ones with a three-year probation period. The convictions occurred several months before the upcoming presidential election, where current President Sadyr Japarov is considered a clear favorite. The individuals involved—former head of intelligence Kamchibek Tashiev, former parliament speaker, and former chief prosecutor—were initially sentenced to four years without the possibility of early release. The court later changed this to conditional sentences, preventing them from participating in the election, which Japarov is expected to win after eliminating opposition. The investigation began after an open letter signed by 75 politicians and former officials called for earlier presidential elections than the scheduled January 2024 date. Tashiev was removed from his position as head of intelligence in February, leading to the removal of other high-ranking officials. Japarov and Tashiev came to power after the 2020 revolution, the third since Kyrgyzstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. They had
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): The article presents the legal proceedings and political implications of the convictions neutrally, citing multiple international news outlets (AFP, Reuters, AFP). It provides background on the political situation in Kyrgyzstan, including regional divisions and the impact on the upcoming election, 4






