| 14.04.2006 Kyrgyzstan: Attack on Civil Society Group Leader Edil Baisalov
Edil Baisalov, who had recently organized demonstrations to protest the influence of criminal groups on the political situation in Kyrgyzstan was attacked by an unidentified man in the centre of Bishkek on April 12. He was rushed into hospital with a serious head injury but doctors have still not determined whether he was shot or struck in the head with a rock or blunt object. While the investigation to determine who is behind this act is still under way, it is widely believed that the attack was politically motivated. Some see the incident as an attempt to intimidate civil society members and weaken the influence of civil society over the country’s political process. Since the change of power in March 2005 and especially in the last few months, Kyrgyzstan has experienced an increase in political-economic violence. Three members of parliament have since been killed. Concerns about attempts by persons with links to criminal groups to become members of parliament, have also been raised by foreign diplomats as well as the OSCE’s Chairman-in-Office, the Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, during his recent visit to the country in March 2006. The attack on Edil Baisalov shows that tensions in Kyrgyz society are increasing. As the IHF and the KCHR are particularly concerned by the fact that violence has now been used against a member of civil society, we call upon the Kyrgyz authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into this attack. We also urge the authorities to ensure that human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan are able to carry out their activities safely and that such violence will not be tolerated. For further information: |