Kyrgyz Governor's Dismissal Sparks Angry Protests
January 23, 2006
Jalalabad, 23 January 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The replacement of a regional governor continues to fuel angry protests in Kyrgyzstan, according to RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service.
An RFE/RL correspondent on the scene estimated that some 300 people were demonstrating in the southern city of Jalalabad today in support of dismissed regional Governor Jusupjan Jeenbekov.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring Talas region, demonstrators were demanding that the newly appointed Jalalabad governor, Iskender Aidaraliev, remain at his post as governor of Talas.
Jeenbekov was elected Jalalabad's governor by a special people's assembly after the ouster of former President Askar Akaev in March.
The newly elected president, Kurmanbek Bakiev, announced Jeenbekov's dismissal on 19 January, sparking anger among his supporters.
A presidential spokesman has said Bakiev was satisfied with Jeenbekov's work but was replacing him as part of a policy of rotation.