Osh residents ready to support dismissed mayor
OSH. Dec 6 (Interfax) - A rally in support of Melis Myrzakmatov, who was recently dismissed from the post of Osh mayor, is taking place in the city, located in southern Kyrgyzstan, on Friday.
"We demand that the authorities of Kyrgyzstan heed our requests. Otherwise, we will be prepared to take resolute measures," people attending the rally said.
The demonstrators put the turnout at the action at 1,000. Law enforcement agencies in Osh estimated the number of people taking part in the rally at around 300.
Myrzakmatov is currently in the country's capital, Bishkek, where he arrived on December 5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev.
After a meeting with Myrzakmatov, Satybaldiyev signed a resolution relieving him of his duties as Osh mayor.
A spokesman for the Osh mayor's office told Interfax that Myrzakmatov would be able to meet with the demonstrators as soon as he returned to Osh.
Late on December 5, police stopped some 200 aggressive young men, who demanded an explanation for Myrzakmatov's dismissal, from entering the mayor's office.
For his part, a spokesman for the Uluttar Birimdigi (Unity of the Nation) party, which is led by Myrzakmatov, told Interfax that a large number of Osh residents want to know the reasons behind Myrzakmatov's dismissal and his current whereabouts.
Uluttar Birimdigi said in a statement on Friday that "the authorities decided to dismiss him due to differences in political views."
Osh police chief Kylychbek Zholdoshev told Interfax that the social and political situation in the city is stable.
"The police are controlling the situation. We will not allow it to escalate further," he said.
Supporters of Kyrgyzstan's arrested former Parliament Speaker Akhmatbek Keldibekov, who is currently a member of the Ata-Zhurt opposition faction, are taking part in the Osh rally as well.
The city's markets, shops and public transport are operating as usual.