Kyrgyz Opposition Party Claims Harassment

A campaign rally by the presidential candidate from Kyrgyzstan’s opposition Ak Shumkar (White Falcon) party in Kyzl-Kiya has been disrupted by police, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Representatives of Temir Sariev told RFE/RL that local police began detaining rally participants, which caused people to panic and disperse.

Ak Shumkar officials say the incident was organized by the authorities to harass the party's campaign.

There are six registered candidates for the country's July 23 presidential election, including incumbent President Kurmanbek Bakiev and opposition candidate Almazbek Atambaev.