PHOTO ESSAY: TENSION IN KYRGYZSTAN'S AK-SUI
Saniya Sagnaeva: 4/6/02

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More than two weeks after violent protests in Kyrgyzstan's southern Ak-Sui district, the country is still reeling. The lower house of Kyrgyzstan's parliament met behind closed doors April 2 to discuss the violence, which erupted after police blocked supporters of opposition legislator Azimbek Beknazarov from entering the district, where he was to be sentenced on corruption charges.

The closed-door session was to begin an official investigation of the causes of the tragedy, Kyrgyz radio reported. This comes after the country's parliament found itself bitterly divided over an appeal for order that characterizes opposition leaders as "intriguers" and accuses them of "fomenting tensions," leading protesters to commit "illegal actions." Fifty-five of the parliament's 105 deputies signed the appeal, amid angry condemnations from opposition deputies - as well as calls for Interior Minister Temirbek Akmataliev's resignation - RFE/RL reported. None of the appeal's 55 signatories had visited the region.

Meanwhile, photographer Saniya Sagnaeva was in Ak-Sui, documenting the mood on the street there. She took these pictures of police and protesters - among them human rights activist and hunger striker Tursunbek Akunov - as they wait out the tension in Ak-Sui. Sagnaeva's photos were taken in the days following the March 17-18 clashes, which left at least five dead and scores wounded. [For more information, see the Eurasia Insight archives].

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Posted April 4, 2002 © Eurasianet
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