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About 1 thousand gather to support detained opposition leaders in Kyrgyzstan

The rally is peaceful, the source said
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

BISHKEK, October 5 (Itar-Tass) — In Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad up to 1,000 people join a rally in support of the opposition leaders, detained by law enforcement authorities, the republic’s administration reported on Friday.

The rally is peaceful, the source said. “We are explaining the situation to the participants”

Leaders of the parliamentary opposition from the faction Ata-Zhurt (Fatherland) – deputies Kamchybek Tashiyev and Sadyr Zhaparov were detained after the riots in central Bishkek on Wednesday. On Wednesday, a massive rally was held in downtown Bishkek. About 400-500 participants in the rally demanded to nationalize the Kumtor Kyrgyz-Canadian gold mine. Later, the demonstrators attempted to break in the house of government by force. The house of government stations the parliament and the presidential staff. The servicemen, who guarded the compound, had to use noise effect grenades and tear gas. The mob was ousted from the house of government and then was dispersed in the city. According to the latest reports, during the clashes between the police and the demonstrators 12 people were injured, most of them are law enforcers. The interdepartmental committee, which included representatives from all Kyrgyz law enforcement agencies, was formed to investigate the criminal case. As of now, the oppositionists detained for 48 hours are suspected of public urges for overthrowing of the power by force.

Supporters if Tashiyev, Zhaparov and Manytov threaten mass protests if the oppositionists are not released. On Thursday, several hundred people in the Jalal-Abad region blocked for five hours the strategic highway connecting Bishkek and Osh. Hundreds cars were trapped. The republican police staff were put on high alert. Ata-Zhurt party over the past parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan was supported by majority of voters, but it failed to agree with other factions on a coalition of ruling majority and had to become opposing.