Kyrgyz Opposition Denied Use Of Parliament Press Center

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz opposition parliament deputies from the Social Democratic Party have not been allowed to use the parliament's press center to brief journalists.

Former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva and Bakyt Beshimov wanted to hold a press conference to discuss the weekend events in the Talas region, where the leaders of two opposition parties were detained and charged with organizing unauthorized rallies and of violating gun laws.

But Otunbaeva and Beshimov were not allowed to use the press center in Bishkek because, they were told that "they were planning to discuss issues that have nothing to do with parliamentary activities."

The legislators then held the briefing in a corridor and later moved to a small room. Beshimov told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that such behavior on the part of the authorities is "savage."