Kyrgyz Activists March Against Land Swap With Uzbekistan

About 300 individuals marched on Monday by means of Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek, demanding the discharge of activists who protested towards a land swap with Uzbekistan during which Kyrgyzstan misplaced a man-made lake in return for land elsewhere alongside the undefined border, OCCRP member heart Kloop reported.

Protesters in Bishkek demanded on Monday the discharge of political prisoners who opposed the land swap with Uzbekistan. (Picture: Metin Dzhumagulov)The group chanted “Kempri-Abad is ours,” referring to the swapped water reservoir positioned on the border, and “Freedom for political prisoners.”

Kyrgyz police on Sunday searched the properties and detained at the very least 21 individuals who objected in a method or one other, the swap, together with those that protested towards it on Saturday. They haven’t been launched but.

A few of the detainees are members of a Committee for the Safety of the Kempir-Abad Reservoir – an advert hoc physique the protesters created that day.

“In the midst of particular investigative actions, proof was obtained in regards to the involvement of people getting ready for mass riots, adopted by an unlawful seizure of energy,” the Ministry of Inner Affairs mentioned.

Deputy head of presidency, Edil Baisalov, mentioned that the searches have been performed with a purpose to stop a coup.

Civil society in addition to a number of members of parliament criticized, even mocked the declare.

MP Dastan Bekeshev famous that Kyrgyz authorities “forgot the teachings of historical past” and assume that Kyrgyzstan has quickly slipped into authoritarianism.

“Are you able to think about that a number of energetic residents expressing a place on the switch of the Kempir-Abad reservoir might be getting ready to grab energy?” Bekeshev requested in a Fb put up.

“That is fantasy and nonsense that comes from above. A legal case towards residents who oppose the fabricated, illegally concocted switch of the Kempir-Abad reservoir. They might not persuade with phrases, now they wish to persuade by drive,” he mentioned.

Former MP and present Kyrgyz ambassador in Germany Omurbek Tekebaev echoed Bekeshev’s assertion, including that threats and arrests will result in no good and that the actions of the authorities are spoiling the popularity of the nation on this planet.

“At this time, the individuals shield our nationwide wealth. That is the constitutional proper of every of us. Not solely is it a proper, however it’s even our obligation. I feel intimidation and arrests are the incorrect method. They will not result in something good. That is what our historical past during the last 30 years has taught us,” Tekebaev mentioned on Fb.

The Kempir-Abad reservoir has been the main focus of public consideration over the previous few weeks. It’s at a piece of the border with Uzbekistan that had not been demarcated and authorities delegations from each nations signed a protocol on September 26 that may result in a closing definition of the border.

Nevertheless, the content material of your complete protocol was not made public however part of it that foresees the switch of the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan was met with criticism from native residents and a few politicians.

Protests began on October 10 first within the Uzgen area the place Kempir-Abad is positioned. Demonstrators demanded a clarification of the signed doc and threatened with “robust measures” in case the reservoir is actually handed over to Uzbekistan.

The identical day, protests unfold to Bishkek, the place the top of the State Committee for Nationwide Safety, Kamchybek Tashiev, who additionally heads the Kyrgyz delegation for the demarcation of the border, instructed the Parliament in a closed session that Kempir-Abad might be given to to Uzbekistan however that each nations will equally share its water.

In return, Kyrgyzstan will get about 20,000 hectares of different disputed border space, he mentioned.

The controversy over the switch compelled President Sadyr Japarov and Kamchybek Tashiev to arrange a public assembly in Bishkek, which journalists have been allowed to attend, however with out telephones or every other recording units.

All through the dialogue, the President insisted that the trade of 4,485 hectares of land of the Kempir-Abad reservoir for greater than 19,000 hectares of land obtained from Uzbekistan in different areas is an opportunity that Kyrgyzstan shouldn’t miss.

“We now have resolved 99% of the disputed plots in our favor. We aren’t giving something away, quite the opposite, we’re buying,” Japarov mentioned.