Accessibility links

Breaking News

Bishkek Rejects Claims Opposition Being Persecuted


(RFE/RL) BISHKEK, April 24, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Authorities in Kyrgyzstan today rejected allegations that they are persecuting the country's political opposition, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz service reports.


Speaking at a news conference in Bishkek today, State Secretary Adakhan Madumarov said Kyrgyzstan's political opposition is confusing the fight against criminality with "political persecution."


"It is not right to call it 'political persecution.' We need to learn to live in the framework of the law," Madumarov said. "Society now is like that. If you start fighting criminality, they call it a persecution. Those people who were named [as victims of persecution] are prominent Kyrgyz personalities. They are well aware of the constitution and the law. They are capable of using their minds, I suppose, to prove their innocence in accordance with the laws and the constitution."


The comments come days after opposition leaders Omurbek Subanaliev and Omurbek Abdyrakmanov were detained for questioning about violence during recent opposition rallies in the country.


On April 23, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Feliks Kulov called on authorities to stop taking what he called "silly actions."


In Bishkek last week, police fired tear gas at demonstrators who were throwing rocks and bottles at the government building. The protesters were demanding constitutional reforms. They also were demanding the resignation of President Kumanbek Bakiev and early elections.

Turmoil In Kyrgyzstan

Turmoil In Kyrgyzstan

Opposition protests in Bishkek on April 11 (TASS)

TAKING TO THE STREETS. Edil Baisalov, president of the largest grassroots network in Kyrgyzstan, discussed the political turmoil in Kyrgyzstan at an RFE/RL briefing in Washington. He addressed the question of whether the unrest is a healthy democratic process or a bid to derail the country's fragile democratic transition.


LISTEN

Listen to the entire briefing (about 70 minutes):
Real Audio Windows Media


RELATED ARTICLES

Protests Gain Steam Ahead Of Major Antigovernment Rally

Political Future Uncertain As Premier Steps Down

Revolution Anniversary Highlights Political Failures

Aksy Commemoration A Key Test For Bakiev


ARCHIVE

RFE/RL's coverage of Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz-language website of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service.



SUBSCRIBE

For regular news and analysis on all five Central Asian countries by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Central Asia Report."

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG