In Kyrgyzstan, ex-president detained after violent clashes
MOSCOW — Police in Kyrgyzstan detained the Central Asian nation’s ex-president following violent clashes with his supporters on Thursday, a day after a previous attempt to arrest him left one policeman dead and nearly 80 people injured.
The violence has raised the threat of a new round of turmoil in the ex-Soviet republic, which borders China and hosts a Russian military air base. Kyrgyzstan’s first two presidents after independence were both driven from office by riots.
Almazbek Atambayev, who was in office from 2011 to 2017, accused his successor and protege, President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, of fabricating false corruption charges against him to stifle criticism. He urged supporters to rally Thursday in the capital, Bishkek, to demand Jeenbekov’s resignation.
The first attempt to arrest Atambayev at his residence outside the capital failed late Wednesday after his supporters rushed to his defense and clashed with police. A police officer later died of his injuries at a hospital and 79 people were injured, officials said.
Police returned in bigger numbers Thursday and used water cannons and stun grenades to overwhelm Atambayev’s supporters and arrest him. Atambayev was driven to the headquarters of the State National Security Committee in the capital.
Laer, about 1,000 Atambayev supporters tried to rally outside the presidential office, but police quickly dispersed them with tear gas and stun grenades. Police also tightened controls on the city’s fringes and clashed with other pro-Atambayev supporters who were trying to drive into the capital.