olitical Tensions Help Prompt Confrontation Outside Kyrgyz Parliament

The Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights reported that correspondents of several newspapers, including Respublika and Agym were barred from covering the meeting. When journalists protested that authorities were violating Kyrgyz media legislation, a police official cursed Zamira Sydykova, editor of Respublika, according to witnesses.

Tensions have been rising in Kyrgyzstan since the arrest of MP Azimbek Beknazarov [For background see EurasiaNet's Human Rights archive]. The arrest has prompted protests and a hunger strike by 25 supporters. Many MPs have expressed support for Beknazarov. Respublika editor Sydykova is among Beknazarov's most vocal supporters.

An ad-hoc committee of Beknazarov supporters issued an appeal January 17 calling on international organizations to do more to promote civil society in Kyrgyzstan. The appeal also called on the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other organizations to withhold economic aid from President Askar Akayev's administration.

The Kyrgyz government has responded by hardening its crackdown. Authorities on January 15 arrested 20 people who participated in a demonstration on Beknazarov's behalf in the Jalalabad region. State Security officials have also reportedly harassed parliament deputies who have publicly supported Beknazarov.

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