Bishkek Rejects Claims Opposition Being Persecuted

(RFE/RL) BISHKEK, April 24, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Authorities in Kyrgyzstan today rejected allegations that they are persecuting the country's political opposition, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz service reports.

Speaking at a news conference in Bishkek today, State Secretary Adakhan Madumarov said Kyrgyzstan's political opposition is confusing the fight against criminality with "political persecution."

"It is not right to call it 'political persecution.' We need to learn to live in the framework of the law," Madumarov said. "Society now is like that. If you start fighting criminality, they call it a persecution. Those people who were named [as victims of persecution] are prominent Kyrgyz personalities. They are well aware of the constitution and the law. They are capable of using their minds, I suppose, to prove their innocence in accordance with the laws and the constitution."

The comments come days after opposition leaders Omurbek Subanaliev and Omurbek Abdyrakmanov were detained for questioning about violence during recent opposition rallies in the country.

On April 23, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Feliks Kulov called on authorities to stop taking what he called "silly actions."

In Bishkek last week, police fired tear gas at demonstrators who were throwing rocks and bottles at the government building. The protesters were demanding constitutional reforms. They also were demanding the resignation of President Kumanbek Bakiev and early elections.