Kyrgyz Government Appoints Youth Affairs Minister

Aliyasbek Alymkulov was among the leaders of the antigovernment protests.

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz interim President Roza Otunbaeva has appointed a youth affairs minister, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Aliyasbek Alymkulov, 39, was one of the leaders of the mass antigovernment protests on April 7 that ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiev and the Kyrgyz government.

Alymkulov suffered a severe head injury when he was shot during the antigovernment demonstrations. He has recovered after undergoing an operation.

On May 19, interim government Deputy Chairman Almaz Atambaev said that Larisa Sosnitskaya had been appointed deputy minister for youth affairs.

Several leaders of the Kyrgyz youth organizations who called for the creation of the ministry were critical of Sosnitskaya's appointment, saying that "real youth activists should work in the ministry."