Watchdog

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz officials briefly detained two opposition activists in northern Kyrgyzstan as they distributed flyers for the opposition group United Popular Movement in the remote town of Naryn.

The two activists, who are from two different opposition parties, have been released and will face interrogation on March 4.

The United Popular Movement issued a press release saying the leaflets contained nothing illegal and that the detentions violate the activists’ constitutional rights.

Kyrgyz authorities have declined to comment.

Last month, activists in southern Kyrgyzstan were briefly detained for distributing opposition flyers.

One of Kyrgyzstan's most outspoken human rights defenders has been questioned by National Security Committee (KNB) officers, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Opposition leader Topchubek Turgunaliev, a member of the United Popular Movement (BEK), told RFE/RL that KNB officers asked him about a recent interview he gave to German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle. In the interview, Turgunaliev discussed the idea of a popular revolution in the country.

Turgunaliev says he was warned that such statements could be interpreted as calls for regime change.

Turgunaliev said he felt he was voicing the majority opinion in Kyrgyzstan.