Kyrgyz journalist Syrgak Abdyldaev, who was
stabbed more than 20 times by unknown assailants in an attack this week, remains in serious but stable condition.
His physician, Ramis Usenbekov, told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that Abdyldaev has required a transfusion of more than three liters of blood and plasma in the last 36 hours.
Usenbekov said Abdyldaev will need several operations on his broken arms.
The Kyrgyz Health Ministry has begun a blood drive in Abdyldaev's name.
Abdyldaev, who is a political analyst for the independent Bishkek weekly "Reporter-Bishkek," was attacked on March 3 outside the newspaper's offices.
In an interview with RFE/RL from his hospital bed, Abdyldaev said he believes the attack was connected to his journalistic activities and doubts his attackers will ever be found.
He said unknown persons had been following him for several months before the attack.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has urged Kyrgyz authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the attack.
"I welcome the fact that the investigation into the attack has already been launched. I hope the perpetrators will be brought to justice as soon as possible," the OSCE's representative on freedom of the media, Miklos Haraszti, said in a letter to Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbaev.
"The authorities should do their utmost to stop violence against media professionals immediately, so it does not become a trend," Haraszti said.