Kyrgyz Opposition Catches National Security Agent

Melis Eshimkanov an an antigovernment rally in Bishkek in April (RFE/RL) BISHKEK, September 10, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyz opposition politician Melis Eshimkanov said today he and his supporters apprehended a Kyrgyz security officer was allegedly following Eshimkanov, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Today members of the For Reforms opposition bloc held a press conference and showed the Kyrgyz National Security Service (UKK) agent to reporters.


"An officer of the National Security Service, Dmitry Ogorodnikov, has shown his documents just now, only when the police came," Eshimkanov told journalists. "When I asked, 'Why are you following me?,' he did not reply. Suddenly the traffic police stopped them, and we used this opportunity and we caught him. We are keeping him now. He is not telling us his reasons."


The UKK confirmed the officer worked for them but said he was involved in a totally different operation and was not instructed to follow Eshimkanov.


The For Reform movement is calling a rally for September 12 in Bishkek to protest purported government attempts to harass the movement.

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