BISHKEK -- Some 100 people in Bishkek's Akjar suburb have unblocked the main road near the largest Central Asian bazaar after Bishkek authorities promised to allocate money to provide the district with electricity and running water, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
The protesters started their action on November 1, burning tires along the road to the Dordoy bazaar. Police are presently monitoring the protest.
The protest ended after one of the participants, Taalai Kushtaev, met with municipal officials who informed him that work on improving infrastructure in Akjar will start after the new government is formed. The five parties that qualified for parliamentary representation in the October 10 election are currently holding talks about forming a coalition.
The suburb of Akjar with some 3,500 households sprang up on the northern outskirts of Bishkek about five years ago without any preliminary planning or permission from the local authorities.
Bishkek city officials have questioned the legality of the settlement, saying that electricity, a sewage system, and other needed infrastructure cannot be installed, as the houses were built without official approval.
The protesters started their action on November 1, burning tires along the road to the Dordoy bazaar. Police are presently monitoring the protest.
The protest ended after one of the participants, Taalai Kushtaev, met with municipal officials who informed him that work on improving infrastructure in Akjar will start after the new government is formed. The five parties that qualified for parliamentary representation in the October 10 election are currently holding talks about forming a coalition.
The suburb of Akjar with some 3,500 households sprang up on the northern outskirts of Bishkek about five years ago without any preliminary planning or permission from the local authorities.
Bishkek city officials have questioned the legality of the settlement, saying that electricity, a sewage system, and other needed infrastructure cannot be installed, as the houses were built without official approval.
