Situation in Alai under control - Kyrgyz interior ministry
BISHKEK/OSH. April 9 (Interfax) - The Kyrgyz Interior Ministry has said the situation in the Alai District in the country's southern Osh region is under control.
The situation in the Alai District is stable, we have not registered any gross public order violations or seizures of administrative buildings, a spokesperson for the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry told Interfax.
"The situation in Alai is under control, police are ready to provide public order in the district and the region," the spokesperson said.
"In reality, the protesting supporters of the former speaker entered the building of the district administration to talk to the head of the district, there was no seizure," the spokesperson said.
The protest in the Alai district is being staged by supporters of the former Kyrgyz parliamentary speaker, Akhmatbek Keldibekov, who was arrested last year.
For their part, the protestors said they forced their way into the building to hold talks with the district chief and after meeting with him they left the administration building.
According to the interior ministry, there are between 100 and 150 protestors. The organizers said there are more of them, but would not specify the number.
The former speaker has been accused of corruption and abuse of office and causing 40 million soms (around $800,000) in losses to the state. He has been held in custody since November 2013. His supporters demand his release and placement under house arrest because of his health which has seriously worsened during his time in custody.