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Protesters in Kyrgyzstan throw stones at Belarus’ embassy

It was the form of protest against Belarusian authorities who refuse extradition of brother of the republic’s former president
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

BISHKEK, August 28 (Itar-Tass) —— About 200-250 participants in a rally threw stones at the embassy of Belarus in Kyrgyzstan’s capital city on Tuesday. Several windows of the diplomatic mission were broken.

The protesters say this was the form of protest against Belarusian authorities who refuse extradition of brother of the republic’s former president Zhanybek Bakiyev. Kyrgyzstan had put the latter on the international wanted list accusing him of involvement in mass assassination of people. Zhanybek Bakiyev is suspected of organisation of a mass shooting at participants in the opposition’s rally in Bishkek in April of 2010, and in organisation of the murder of head of the presidential administration Medet Sadyrkulov.

“We demand Belarus did not hide criminals,” a protester told Itar-Tass.

After the revolution, Kurmanbek Bakiyev ran from Kyrgyzstan and settled in Belarus. Several days earlier, Kyrgyzstan learned his brother, Zhanybek Bakiyev, former head of the state security service, was in Belarus, too. Several days earlier Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador Erik Asanaliyev was recalled from Minsk “for consultations.”

“I doubt that after today’s incident, our embassy would change the format of activities,” Belarus’ Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Viktor Denisenko said. “We shall continue working in the regular regime.”

At the same time, the diplomat expressed hope Kyrgyzstan’s law enforcement authorities in line with the republic’s international obligations would provide normal functioning of the diplomatic representation. Denisenko said during the accident the staff of the embassy had not been wounded.