BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan's supreme court on Wednesday cleared Felix Kulov, one of the top hopefuls for upcoming presidential elections, of one of two criminal convictions that he received under the Central Asian nation's toppled regime.
The court overturned a 2000 conviction by a military tribunal against Kulov for abusing his position while minister for national security from 1997 to 1998, the court's chairman, Judge Nizanidin Adimzhanov said.
"The court examined the case and decided that Kulov was not guilty of abuse of his position and authority," Adimzhanov said.
The court said that on Thursday it would examine a second conviction against Kulov, for misusing state funds while mayor of the capital Bishkek.
Many considered the convictions, which earned Kulov a seven-year jail term in 2000, to have been politically motivated for his opposition to Askar Akayev, who was then president.
Kulov, who was in court to hear the verdict, confirmed that he would stand for president in upcoming elections if the court cleared him of the second charge.
"I was hoping for this acquittal as I never believed I was guilty -- if there's a similar decision tomorrow I can participate in the elections," Kulov told reporters.
Kulov is considered a top contender for the post of president during the upcoming elections, which have tentatively been set for June 26. His main challenger is expected to be Kurmanbek Bakiyev, an opposition leader under Akayev whom parliament has named interim president.
Kulov was freed from the jail where he was serving his sentence on March 24, hours after opposition protestors over-ran the main seat of government in Bishkek, forcing veteran leader Akayev to flee the country for Russia.
Akayev tendered his resignation in Moscow on Monday but it has still to be formally accepted by the Central Asian country's parliament. The chamber is due to convene on Thursday.
04/06/2005 12:43 GMT