30 Jan 2020 20:35

Kyrgyz diplomats inquiring about Kyrgyz man's arrest in St. Petersburg for graffiti threats against Russian president

BISHKEK. Jan 30 (Interfax) - The Kyrgyz Embassy to Russia is working on establishing the circumstances surrounding the arrest in St. Petersburg of a Kyrgyz citizen who allegedly spray-painted images on buildings inciting assassination of the Russian president.

"The Embassy's chancellery in St. Petersburg is making enquiries about causes of the incident," the embassy's press service said on Thursday.

It was reported earlier that the city's Oktyabrsky District Court had sanctioned the arrest of Mukhammadaziz Ishmatov, 22, from Kyrgyzstan, on suspicion of vandalism and making public calls for terrorism.

"The inquiry found that an unidentified individual, having a design to make public calls for terrorist activities, conspired with [Islombek] Parpiyev on the Internet, having offered him 5,000 rubles for making a stencil depicting the president of Russia and inscribing "If you see him, kill him," and then using it to spray-paint the facades of an unidentified number of buildings in St. Petersburg," the joint press service of the city's courts stated last Wednesday.

Parpiyev agreed and enlisted Ishmatov. By January 27, they had spray-painted six buildings, the statement said.

Ishmatov has denied any involvement, it said.

According to a court ruling, the suspect will remain in custody until March 27.

A decision is due shortly on a restraining measure for Parpiyev, the press service said.

According to the media, both are natives of Kyrgyzstan.