BISHKEK -- The speaker of Kyrgyzstan's parliament today proposed draft legislation that would allow deputies to carry guns at his discretion, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Akmatbek Keldibekov's proposal comes two weeks after authorities revealed that security officers confiscated 11 guns -- including an AK-47 assault rifle -- at the parliament following a scuffle between two deputies.
Egemberdi Ermatov, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee For Official Workers' Ethics, told RFE/RL that Keldibekov proposed amending the law on the status of members of parliament to enable a deputy whose life is under threat to apply to the speaker for a permit to carry a gun.
The speaker would grant such permission if he considered the request valid.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
Akmatbek Keldibekov's proposal comes two weeks after authorities revealed that security officers confiscated 11 guns -- including an AK-47 assault rifle -- at the parliament following a scuffle between two deputies.
Egemberdi Ermatov, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee For Official Workers' Ethics, told RFE/RL that Keldibekov proposed amending the law on the status of members of parliament to enable a deputy whose life is under threat to apply to the speaker for a permit to carry a gun.
The speaker would grant such permission if he considered the request valid.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
