Rallies banned in downtown Bishkek until May 1
BISHKEK. March 31 (Interfax) - Rallies on the central square of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and near the parliament and government buildings have been banned until May 1, the city police department told Interfax on Monday.
The police said the decision was made by the Bishkek Pervomaisky district administration and upheld by the district court.
"The reason for the ban is numerous requests from citizens, preparations to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the April 2010 People's Revolution and the task of preventing sociopolitical destabilization by destructive forces and providing for the public peace and the security of citizens and visitors of the capital city," the department press service said.
The Pervomaisky District Court allowed holding rallies in the Maxim Gorky Park located not far from the parliament building and the central square, Ala-Too.
"Any protests and other actions held on Ala-Too Square and near the buildings of the parliament and the government in the period from March 31 through May 1, 2014, will be deemed illegal and disobedience of the demands of police officers will be punished with an administrative fine," the police said.
A Kyrgyz opposition movement led by former Ata Zhurt parliament deputy Sadyr Zhaparov planned to have a large rally in Bishkek on Monday to put forward economic demands and to insist upon constitutional amendments.
Rumors of possible provocations and illegal actions, up to a storm of the parliament building, were circulating in Bishkek the day before the action.
The organizers said on March 30 they would postpone their action until April 10 in order to avoid provocations.
Yet the owners of many shops in central Bishkek put away their most expensive items and closed the windows with steel roll-down shutters in anticipation of the protest.