The protesters claimed Prime Minister Felix Kulov was indirectly responsible for the death of Tynychbek Akmatbayev, who was killed in unknown circumstances Oct. 20 when he visited a prison taken over by inmates protesting their living conditions.

The protest has been spearheaded by Akmatbayev's brother Ryspek, who contends that Kulov has links to a criminal boss incarcerated in the prison. Ryspek Akmatbayev is himself awaiting trial on murder charges following the killing of the head of the Interior Ministry's anti-corruption department in May.

Largely peaceful, the protest underlines the political tensions that persist in Kyrgyzstan in the wake of this spring's uprising that drove President Askar Akayev into exile. Kurmanbek Bakiyev was elected president in July.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 29, 2005
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