BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov reprimanded Interior Minister Moldomusa Kongantiev today and cancelled his appointment of a controversial figure as a deputy police chief, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Usenov took the action against Kongantiev due to his January 15 appointment of Zhenish Jorobekov as deputy head of Bishkek's police department.
Jorobekov was dismissed in April 2009 from his post as chief of a nearby police department after unrest in the town of Petrovka, outside of Bishkek, where an ethnic Kurd was accused of raping a 4-year-old ethnic Russian girl on April 6. The girl's grandmother later killed herself as a result of the incident.
Beknazarov said Jorobekov did not open a criminal case, which led many to believe he was connected to the alleged rapist.
On April 26, some 2,000 outraged villagers demanded that all ethnic Kurds leave Petrovka.
Jorobekov today told RFE/RL he might have played a part in the unrest in Petrovka, but added that a court ruled opposition party members were ultimately responsible for stoking the unrest.
Usenov took the action against Kongantiev due to his January 15 appointment of Zhenish Jorobekov as deputy head of Bishkek's police department.
Jorobekov was dismissed in April 2009 from his post as chief of a nearby police department after unrest in the town of Petrovka, outside of Bishkek, where an ethnic Kurd was accused of raping a 4-year-old ethnic Russian girl on April 6. The girl's grandmother later killed herself as a result of the incident.
Beknazarov said Jorobekov did not open a criminal case, which led many to believe he was connected to the alleged rapist.
On April 26, some 2,000 outraged villagers demanded that all ethnic Kurds leave Petrovka.
Jorobekov today told RFE/RL he might have played a part in the unrest in Petrovka, but added that a court ruled opposition party members were ultimately responsible for stoking the unrest.
