Russian Foreign Ministry concerned over Kyrgyz clashes

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed on Friday concern over deadly clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan.

"We are concerned over the outbreak of violence in Kyrgyzstan and express our condolences to the relatives of those who died," said Igor Lyakin-Florov, a deputy department director in the ministry.

Riots broke out in the city of Osh on Thursday night, reportedly after a fight between locals and members of the city's Uzbek population.

The death toll from the clashes is now put at 17, with over 140 injured.

Clashes have become commonplace in Kyrgyzstan since the violent overthrow of the republic's government and president in early April.

The Declaration on Kyrgyzstan adopted at the session of the Council of leaders of SCO member states

 The session of the Council of leaders of SCO member states started its work in Tashkent. Leaders of SCO states devoted considerable attention to the situation in Kyrgyzstan.

 "We express our full solidarity with the Kyrgyz people and our shared concern about the difficult situation in the republic", - Islam Karimov said. According to him, the SCO countries in the paper confirm the "willingness to provide full support for the early stabilization and the legitimization of power in Kyrgyzstan".

 SCO will send observers to Kyrgyzstan in a referendum on a new constitution and to monitor the situation, said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, speaking at the summit of SCO.

12 Dead in Kyrgyz Clashes

. At least 12 people have been reported killed in a new outbreak of violence in southern Kyrgyzstan.

 The deaths were reported as the country's interim authorities declared a state of emergency in the city of Osh and sent in troops and armored vehicles to quell violence reportedly involving rival groups of youths.

 A Health Ministry spokesman is quoted as saying 12 people have been killed and 126 hospitalized with injuries.

 Reports say 1,000 or more people were involved in the violence, with groups of youths reported fighting, smashing windows, looting shops and setting fires to cars. Some reports have linked the violence to ethnic conflicts between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the region.

 The interim government announced that the state of emergency was in force for Osh and three neighboring districts -- Karassu, Arava and Uzgen -- and would last until at least June 20.

 Authorities have also imposed a nighttime curfew in the region.

 Interior Minister Bolot Sherniyazov and Defense Minister Ismail Issakov have flown to the region to oversee efforts to restore order.

 Southern Kyrgyzstan was the power base of former president Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was ousted in a violent revolt in April.

Pentagon to construct objects in five Central Asian countries

The Pentagon plans to construct objects in five Central Asian countries.
"The Pentagon is going to start mini construction boom in Central Asia. According to the recently published sources, the American military men wish to participate in strategic building projects in all five Central Asian states, including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan."

According to Eurasianet.org, the antiterrorist preparation centre in the southern Kyrgyzstan will be the most significant object. "This object was initially planned to be constructed in the Batkensky area. It will now be located in Osh."

According to the published on the governmental site of the USA, Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) in the middle of May, the USA army engineering troop unit would like to receive applications from the respondents interested in participation in "design-construction objects of big scale of the local level, constructed in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan".

"We expect that two various projects will be carried out in Kyrgyzstan. Their cost will be about $5 million and about $10 million. $5 million will be allocated for Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Also, there are two separate offers for Tajikistan, one - for the sum of $5 million and another - for the sum of $10 million."

Russia, Uzbekistan to coordinate situation in Kyrgyzstan

 Russia and Uzbekistan agreed on coordination of efforts to settle the situation in Kyrgyzstan. The special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Relations Development with Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Rushaylo, informed.

The day before in Tashkent, he held the meeting with the President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, to discuss the situation in Kyrgyzstan. "We share the same opinion on the necessity of stabilization and establishment of mutual understanding in Kyrgyzstan," V. Rushaylo underlined.

"Russia will continue rendering Kyrgyzstan humanitarian help in the near future. "There is a coordination process between Rosselhozbank and Kyrgyz Ayilbank of the conditions of granting of the Russian interest-free credit for the sum of $30 million," the special representative of the President of Russia said.

Earlier, Russia had already given to Kyrgyzstan humanitarian help in the form of $20 million grant and has forwarded to Bishkek 43 tons of humanitarian cargoes, including medical equipment, sterilizers, and blood transfusion devices.

V. Rushaylo informed that the chairman of the Central Election Committee of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Churov, will arrive in Kyrgyzstan on June 9 in connection with preparation for the referendum under the new Constitution, planned for June 27.

According to V. Rushaylo, V. Churov will arrive to render assistance in organization of methodical and technical cooperation with Kyrgyzstan.

Russian PM Vladimir Putin: U.S. troops’ stay on the territory of Kyrgyzstan depends on the decision of Bishkek

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that the issue of deployment of U.S. military base in Kyrgyzstan is the competence of the leadership of this country.
"As the Kyrgyz leadership will decide - so it will be " - said Putin on June 8 at a press in response to a question whether Russia will take any steps to ensure that the Americans will leave "Manas".

Putin arrived in Turkey on Tuesday to attend the third summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and hold bilateral talks with top officials from Turkey and other countries.

Suspected snipers detained in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz authorities have detained 15 people suspected of being snipers who opened fire at antigovernment demonstrators in Bishkek on April 7.

The deputy chairman of Kyrgyzstan's interim government, Azimbek Beknazarov, told journalists today that the names of the persons who gave the command to open fire are known. He did not identify them.

The April 7 clashes between antigovernment protesters and police and security forces left more than 80 people dead and hundreds wounded. President Kurmanbek Bakiev was forced to resign and left the country.

Beknazarov said that investigations have been completed in 80 percent of the criminal cases launched against Bakiev and members of his family. Bakiev, his former associates and some of his relatives have been formally charged with abuse of power, corruption, mass murder, and embezzlement.

According to Beknazarov, one of Kyrgyzstan's major banks, the AziaUniversalBank that used to be controlled by Bakiev's son, Maksim, will be nationalized in the near future.

Kyrgyz authorities to nationalize major bank

The head of Kyrgyzstan's interim government, Roza Otunbaeva, signed a decree today to nationalize one of the country's largest banks.

AsiaUniversalBank used to be controlled by businessman Mikhail Nadel and Maksim Bakiyev, one of ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's two adult sons from his first marriage.

The interim government said it was acting to ensure the stability of the country's banking and payment systems and to prevent the deterioration of the bank's financial condition.

Azimbek Beknazarov, deputy head of the Kyrgyz interim government for judicial reform and law enforcement, told a news conference in Bishkek today that "Nadel is a fugitive from justice now. His whereabouts are unknown. He is wanted by the National Security Service and the prosecutor's office. He owns 66 percent of the stock. Before he transfers his stock to some frontman, we're going to nationalize the bank."

The decree obliges Kyrgyzstan's National Bank and Finance Ministry to submit to the interim government within one week their plan for the bank's nationalization, taking into account the rights and interests of the bank's clients.

The interim government came to power on April 7 in the wake of mass antigovernment protests that toppled Bakiyev.

A.Beknazarov: Murder of AIbek Mirsidikov (Black Aibek) will not lead to the destabilization on the South of Kyrgyzstan

Murder of AIbek Mirsidikov (Black Aibek) will not lead to the destabilization on the South of Kyrgyzstan, informed the member of interim government Azimbek Beknazarov at the interview.

Aibek Mirsidikov named as Black Aibek has been shot to death at night on June 7. 

According to Baknazarov, Black Aibek has been in conflict with Kadyrjan Batyrov, who probably has burned Aibek’s house during mass disorders in Jalalabad in May.

Now investigation is ongoing.

Member of interim government creates new political party and resigns his post

Deputy Head of apparatus of interim government of Kyrgyzstan Edil Baisalov intends to resign his post and create political party to participate in the parliamentarian elections scheduled for this year.
Earlier, some members of interim government have declared that they will participate in the election race and intend to resign their posts.

All information based on the newswire of the Zpress.kg news agency