QURGHON TEPPA, July 20, Asia-Plus - The final trial of 12 inmates of the Qurghon Teppa jail charged with being involved in unrest in a Qurghon Teppa jail was adjourned on July 20 until July 24.  

The trial was adjourned because journalists had not been allowed attending the trial.  The judge ordered the adjournment after the defendants said that they would not testify if journalists were allowed attending the trial.   

The prison chief had to solve the issue of presence of representative from media in courtroom but he had not appeared before the court at all.  Therefore it was decided to adjourn the final trial until July 24.  

We will recall that a regional court in Khatlon started the consideration of criminal proceedings instituted against 16, including 12 inmates and four wardens of the prison, over unrest that took place in the Qurghon Teppa jail in August last year on May 24.  The trial is being held in the building of the Qurghon Teppa jail.    

The Qurghon Teppa jail’s inmates stirred up a mutiny in early August last year protesting against poor prison conditions.  Police quelled the unrest in several hours.  The Khatlon prosecutor’s office instituted criminal proceedings to probe the jail unrest.