Russian Rights Activist Barred From Entering Kyrgyzstan

Russian human rights activist Vitaly Ponomaryov was prevented from entering Kyrgyzstan on April 23, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Kyrgyz officials forced Ponomaryov to get off the Moscow-Bishkek train near the Chaldovar train station along the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border at 2 a.m. local time.

In February, Ponomaryov was stopped by Kyrgyz border guards at Bishkek's Manas Airport upon arriving from Moscow. He was forced to fly back to Moscow.

Kyrgyz border guards told RFE/RL that Ponomaryov has been officially barred from entering Kyrgyzstan until 2014.

Ponomaryov is a well-known human rights activist on Central Asian issues.