• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Hundreds Protest Opposition Party Leader's Detention In Kyrgyzstan

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service February 27, 2017

BISHKEK -- Hundreds of people have protested in Kyrgyzstan's capital for a second day, demanding the release of opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party leader Omurbek Tekebaev.

The demonstrators gathered on Ala-Too Square in Bishkek on February 27, holding placards calling Tekebaev's detainment a "provocation."

They chanted "Freedom for Tekebaev!" and urged President Almazbek Atambaev to come out and explain the situation.

Tekebaev, a former ally who is now a vocal critic of Atambaev, was detained at Bishkek's airport early on February 26 upon arrival from Turkey.

A court in Kyrgyzstan later on February 27 ordered him to be kept in custody for two months while a fraud and corruption investigation continues against him.

His detention months before a November presidential election raised the prospect of fresh political turmoil in the Central Asian nation, where protesters drove presidents from power in 2005 and 2010.

More than 1,000 supporters protested outside the headquarters of the State Committee for National Security (UKMK) on February 26, demanding Tekebaev's release.

Former deputy parliament speaker Asia Sasykbaeva told journalists that the protests will continue until Tekebaev's release.

Former President Roza Otunbaeva, who was among the protesters on February 27, said that Tekebaev's detainment was politically motivated.

"We have seen all this before," said Otunbaeva, who was swept to power in the protests that toppled President Kurmanbek Bakiev in 2010 and served as president from April 2010 until December 2011.

"I was confident that current authorities will not repeat the mistakes of the previous authorities," she said. "Now, a political standoff is under way. Tekebaev's detainment is unjust and unacceptable in the independent Kyrgyzstan."

Many protesters said that Atambaev and members of the government and parliament "have quickly forgotten" that they came to power thanks to dozens of people killed in a crackdown on the protests against Bakiev in 2010.

Tekebaev's wife, Aigul Tekebaeva, told RFE/RL on Ala-Too Square that the UKMK would be responsible if something happened to her husband while in custody.

Once an ally of Atambaev, Tekebaev became a leading critic last summer after the president proposed constitutional amendments -- approved in a December referendum -- that opponents fear are designed to keep him and his allies in power indefinitely.

The amendments boosted the powers of the prime minister, prompting speculation that Atambaev -- who is barred from seeking a second term in the November 19 election -- could position himself to become the next prime minister or install an ally in the role.

Tekebaev, 58, is the third member of Ata-Meken to be detained by the authorities for questioning in recent weeks as part of the alleged corruption probe.

Earlier in February, authorities also detained parliamentary deputies Almabet Shykmamatov and Aida Salyanova for questioning.

The detentions come despite the fact that Tekebaev, Shykmamatov, and Salyanova all have parliamentary immunity from prosecution.

So far, no formal charges have been filed against them.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-protests- tekebaev-detention/28334593.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.