BISHKEK, January 11. /TASS/. Several alleged plotters have been detained in Kyrgyzstan by officers of the State Committee for National Security (UKMK) on suspicion of preparing to stage a coup d'etat in the landlocked Central Asian country, the UKMK press center reported.
"As a result of investigative and operational activities, dozens of supporters and active associates of Imamidin Tashov and Tilekmat Kurenov from various regions of the country were identified. They were duly questioned and gave exhaustive testimony. Some key persons have been detained, in respect of whom substantiating information has been obtained about their involvement in criminal plans to overthrow the government," the report says.
Earlier, the UKMK announced that Tashov and Kurenov, who is currently in the US, were preparing to carry out a violent seizure of power in the country. Both of them are currently listed as wanted.
According to the press center, the coordinator of the rebels in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions is among the detainees, the number of whom has not been named. It is alleged that he was supposed to organize people to hold "mass protests on various grounds" and to ensure their transportation to the capital city of Bishkek. Another alleged plotter was detained in the Talas region, where his main task was to receive "money transfers from various people in the US."
In this regard, a criminal case has been opened on the grounds of crimes under the Kyrgyz Criminal Code articles concerning forcible seizure of power and abuse of power by employees of commercial or other organizations, the security service added. The UKMK made assurances that investigative and operational measures are currently being carried out "to establish all the circumstances and detain other persons involved in the organization of the coup d'etat."
A few days ago, Tashov published a video message on social media in which he claimed he had been kidnapped by UKMK officers who had extorted 100 mln Kyrgyz som (about $1.12 mln) from him.