Security stepped up at Kyrgyz govt HQ ahead of opposition rally
BISHKEK/OSH. April 10 (Interfax) - Law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert in Kyrgyzstan, a Kyrgyz Interior Ministry spokesman told Interfax on Thursday.
"Our units in the southern regions were put on high alert in February. All of the other units took the same measures in compliance with an additional decree issued by the minister," the spokesman said.
In addition to that, soldiers of the National Guard and the State Protection Service who are guarding the government headquarters were given appropriate instructions on Thursday morning ahead of a planned opposition rally.
Visitor access has also been tightened to the government building, where security has been increased as well.
"A stage was installed in the Gorky part of Bishkek on Thursday morning, and people are gathering there already," a spokesman for the opposition rally organizers told reporters.
As many as 300 people arrived in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, from the village of Saru in the country's northern Issyk-Kul region on Wednesday as a gesture of solidarity and support for the protesters.
"A total of 500 policemen will maintain public order," a Bishkek police spokesman told Interfax.
"Our reserve includes additional forces, among them the Interior Ministry's recently formed special operations regiment," the police spokesman said.
"These extra forces will be able to reach any part of the city within 20-25 minutes, should such a need arise," he said.
"Fifty police squads will patrol Bishkek as well. City police chief Melis Turganbayev will be present at the rally from beginning to end," he said.
Around half of shops remained closed in Bishkek on Thursday morning.
Those that decided to open took the majority of their goods to warehouses on Wednesday, keeping just a limited supply of merchandise.
Most protesters are gathering near the capital's largest market, widely known as the Osh Bazaar, some city residents have said.
The mayoral office of Kyrgyzstan's southern city of Osh told Interfax that "no rallies are expected to take place on Thursday - the city municipality has not been notified of such plans."
The Osh authorities, however, did not rule out that the opposition could stage a rally in the city.
According to the local media, a rally in support of the opposition may be held in the city of Jalal-Abad, also in the south of Kyrgyzstan.
