Detained journalist Erkaiym Asankanova released

Erkaiym Asankanova, a journalist for PolitKlinika, who was detained with the rest of the protesters during a march for the rule of law in Bishkek, was released. Having left the police department, she told 24.kg news agency the details of the incident.

«I was detained by mistake. When they brought me to the police department, they took me to a separate room. They asked to show my official ID. When they figured out that I was a journalist, they let me go. In total, there were about 20 detainees with me on the bus,» Erkaiym Asankanova told.

The Committee for protection of Kempir-Abad reservoir was created on October 22. It includes activists, politicians and MPs. On the same day, in an interview with Kabar news agency, President Sadyr Japarov said: the authorities have information who was behind the rallies and marches on Kempir-Abad issue.

Mass arrests began on October 23. Authorities placed 26 people in jail on charges of preparing for riots.

A number of international human rights organizations such as the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), Freedom Now and others issued a statement calling for the immediate release of politicians and activists arrested in Kyrgyzstan.