Tursunbek Akun asks international NGOs to protect rights of opposition leaders

The former ombudsman Tursunbek Akun asked international NGOs “to assist the Kyrgyz authorities in the protection of political rights of opposition leaders and ordinary citizens, who suffer systematic persecution on political grounds,” the human rights activist reported.

Letters were sent to Human Rights Watch, Freedom House and Human Rights Council at the UN. “We were forced to turn to you. Starting from 2016, cases of gross violations of the rights of leaders and representatives of the opposition and opposition-minded individuals increased in 2016, and they are politically persecuted for political reasons,” Tursunbek Akun wrote.

According to Tursunbek Akun, an authoritarian regime was established in the Kyrgyz Republic.

At night on February 26, GKNB officers detained the deputy of Parliament Omurbek Tekebayev at Manas airport, who returned from a trip to Bishkek. He is accused of corruption and fraud.