7 Aug 2019 19:59

Ex-Kyrgyz President Atambayev in safety - lawyer

BISHKEK. Aug 7 (Interfax) - Former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev is in a safe place, his lawyer, Sergei Slesarev, told Interfax.

"Atambayev is in a safe place," Slesarev said.

He did not specify where exactly the ex-president was staying.

"After a National Security Committee taskforce used weapons and special equipment against the former president's supporters, this prompted the people to counteract, and the taskforce had to leave Atambayev's home and retreat across the river," he said.

It had been reported earlier that security forces stormed Atambayev's house outside Bishkek and detained him, but these reports have not yet been confirmed officially.

Atambayev's daughter Aliya Shagiyeva said on Instagram that nobody had detained the ex-president and he was still in the village of Koy Tash.