BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz police have detained Green Party leader Erkin Bulekbaev, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Green Party representative Kanybek Sarymsakov told RFE/RL that Bulekbaev was among 2,000 people in the village of Petrovka that blocked the Bishkek-Osh highway on April 27 demanding that 80 locals detained by police on April 26 be released.
The protesters were arrested after gathering to demand the immediate deportation of all ethnic Kurds from the village.
The protest was caused by a report that a local citizen, an ethnic Kurd, allegedly raped a 4-year-old Russian girl.
RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports that police have begun releasing the protesters as demanded by those blocking the highway.
Green Party representative Kanybek Sarymsakov told RFE/RL that Bulekbaev was among 2,000 people in the village of Petrovka that blocked the Bishkek-Osh highway on April 27 demanding that 80 locals detained by police on April 26 be released.
The protesters were arrested after gathering to demand the immediate deportation of all ethnic Kurds from the village.
The protest was caused by a report that a local citizen, an ethnic Kurd, allegedly raped a 4-year-old Russian girl.
RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports that police have begun releasing the protesters as demanded by those blocking the highway.