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Ex-president Atambayev violated constitution by resisting arrest, says Kyrgyz leader

Clashes between the police and Atambayev’s adherents resulted in one death and over 50 injuries
Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov Mikhail Metzel/TASS
Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

BISHKEK, August 8. /TASS/. Former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has blatantly violated the constitution by putting up ruthless armed resistance to his arrest, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov told the national Security Council meeting on Thursday.

"Atambayev trampled on the constitution and the laws of the Kyrgyz Republic," Jeenbekov’s press service quotes him as saying. The president pointed out that Kyrgyzstan is a "state governed by the rule of law." "The state is committed to ensure rigid adherence to the law by all citizens," he stated.

According to the press service, the leader addressed the members of the Security Council, stressing "the need to do everything possible to preserve justice, peace and security in the country, which warrants taking urgent measures."

On Wednesday, the special forces of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security attempted to take Atambayev into custody at his residence in the village of Koi-Tash but failed. Supporters of the ex-president, who were guarding his residence, managed to repel the raid and disarm the federal officers, subsequently taking six of them captive. Additional police were dispatched to the site where they were met by Atambayev’s supporters, who ended up clashing with the law enforcement agents in Koi-Tash. As a result, one officer died, and more than 50 individuals were injured.