Kyrgyz Ex-PM Charged with Creating Public Disorder

Former Prime Minister Feliks Kulov (file photo) (ITAR-TASS) BISHKEK, August 1, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- A defense lawyer for Feliks Kulov, a Kyrgyz opposition leader and former prime minister, says Kulov was charged today with creating mass public disorder, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Kulov is the head of the United Front for a Worthy Future for Kyrgyzstan and was a co-organizer of antigovernment demonstrations in April that lasted nine days before being broken up by government forces.

He was questioned by the authorities shortly after the demonstrations.

Kulov was questioned again today by security officials.

(with material from agency reports)

Turmoil In Kyrgyzstan

Opposition protests in Bishkek on April 11 (TASS)

TAKING TO THE STREETS. Edil Baisalov, president of the largest grassroots network in Kyrgyzstan, discussed the political turmoil in Kyrgyzstan at an RFE/RL briefing in Washington. He addressed the question of whether the unrest is a healthy democratic process or a bid to derail the country's fragile democratic transition.