Kyrgyz Authorities Try to Detain Ex-President, He Opens Fire on Special Forces, One Dead. What Is Going On?!

We explain what is happening in Koy-Tash.

Koy-Tash is a small village in Alamudun District of Chui Region in Kyrgyzstan. It is home to the residence of the country's former president, Almazbek Atambayev. After law enforcement officers tried to detain Atambayev, the small village became known around the world: the ex-president barricaded himself in his residence, and his supporters offered armed resistance to security forces.

In the clashes, 52 people were injured and one law enforcement officer was killed (according to media reports, by a sniper's bullet). Six special forces officers were taken captive by Atambayev's supporters and severely beaten. Now the ex-president has announced an indefinite protest outside the country's parliament.

Who is Almazbek Atambayev?

Almazbek Atambayev is the former president of the Kyrgyz Republic (from 2011 to 2017). He served twice as prime minister: after the Tulip Revolution in 2007 and after the April Revolution from 2010 to 2011. His rule was marked by numerous corruption scandals, controversial personnel appointments and persecution of opposition politicians and journalists. After leaving the presidency, Atambayev became an active critic of the government: he calls Sooronbay Jeenbekov an “illegitimate president” and the country's parliament a “snotty body.”

What is he accused of?

Kyrgyz law enforcement agencies are investigating five criminal cases against Atambayev. He is accused of several corruption episodes and the illegal release from prison of crime boss Aziz Batukayev. The former president faces up to 20 years in prison.

The republic's Interior Ministry says Atambayev was summoned for questioning several times but ignored the summonses. On June 27, 2019, the country's parliament stripped Atambayev of his status as former president and of immunity. 103 of the 110 deputies voted for this decision.

What happened?

On the evening of August 7, special forces officers from Bishkek arrived at Atambayev's residence in Koy-Tash to detain the ex-president, but supporters of the politician gathered on site prevented this. Law enforcers twice attempted to storm the residence with varying success: they managed not only to enter the grounds but also to get into Atambayev's house, but the ex-president barricaded himself in one of the rooms, and his supporters pushed the security forces off the residence grounds, capturing six special forces officers.

In the clashes, more than 50 people were injured and one law enforcement officer was killed. Several people are in serious condition. Mobile phone service and internet were cut off in the city.

What happens after the failed detention attempt?

Kyrgyz authorities have already stated that they do not intend to leave these events without consequences. The Prosecutor General's Office of the country reported the opening of several criminal cases following the clashes — for murder, attempted murder, violence against government representatives, hostage-taking, mass riots and hooliganism.

President of the republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov cut short his vacation and urgently convened the National Security Council. He accused his predecessor of violating the Constitution, specifically of organizing armed resistance to state authorities.

Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Orozbek Opumbayev, speaking in parliament, said he regrets not having ordered special forces to shoot to kill and not having ordered that fighters be issued firearms.

Apparently, the country's authorities may make a new attempt to detain Atambayev in the near future.

What does Atambayev plan to do?

On August 8, Almazbek Atambayev recorded a video address to his supporters, in which he announced an indefinite protest outside the Kyrgyz parliament. The ex-president said his supporters had no weapons and took responsibility for the shooting himself: Atambayev said he personally fired from his residence when special forces entered the third floor, but that he “tried not to hit the guys.”

Almazbek Atambayev
Former President of the Kyrgyz Republic

I warned right away that I would resist, because I am not a sheep that Sooronbay will lead off to have its throat cut

The former president believes that if the authorities treat his home, which is protected by law, this way, then they certainly do not consider ordinary citizens to be people either.