Bird-Cherry Counter-Revolution
// Kyrgyz authorities found force solution to political crisis
Kyrgyzstan’s authorities resorted to solving the political crisis by force. Police scattered the opposition’s rally on Thursday night in Bishkek by means of rubber bullets, stun grenades, and tear-gas. The opposition was demanding the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiev. Throughout Friday, Kyrgyz special services were closing opposition newspapers, searching the offices of opposition parties, and arresting opposition leaders. Yet, even some 100 servicemen failed to detain former Prime Minister Felix Kulov, who headed the anti-president rallies.
The ultimatum delivered by Kyrgyz opposition leader Felix Kulov to President Kurmanbek Bakiev expired on Thursday. Kulov’s most radical supporters promised to storm Kyrgyzstan’s White House if the president does not resign on April 19. Kulov, however, disproved the statement.
By Thursday night, over 4,000 people gathered in front of the White House. Then, nearly 100 people in white caps suddenly appeared on the square. No one had seen these people during the nine days when the opposition held its protest rallies. The strangers quickly mixed with the crowd, after which stones and sticks began being thrown into police. The latter responded by tens of stun grenades and smoke bombs with “Cheremukha” (“Bird-cherry”) tear-gas.
Former Interior Minister Muratbek Imanaliev believes that either the authorities or the opposition are responsible for triggering the disorders. Felix Kulov blames the authorities, saying that it was provocateurs who initiated the fighting against police.
Around 5 a.m. Friday morning, Prosecutor General Elmurza Satybaldiev gave orders to initiate a criminal case upon organizing the protest rally. Soon afterwards, officers of the National Security State Committee searched the headquarters of major opposition parties, confiscating computers and documents. Opposition leaders received summons to interrogation at 6 a.m. in the Committee. Many activists were arrested right at receiving the summons.
However, special services failed to arrest the opposition leader. When the security officers came for Felix Kulov, it turned out he had gone to his native village of Baitik in northern Kyrgyzstan. So, the Security Committee sent investigators, accompanied by three buses of servicemen, to Baitik. Yet, when the convoy arrived to the village, local residents surrounded the buses and said: “We will not let Kulov go with you to Bishkek. Talk to him here, if you want.” After a short wrangle, the security officers went back to Kyrgyz capital.
Alexander Gabuev; Bek Orozaliev, Bishkek
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 21, 2007
|
