Watchdog

MOSCOW -- Some 30 activists have been detained in Moscow for holding an unsanctioned public gathering, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

The activists attempted to hold their so-called Day of Wrath monthly gathering on Moscow's Theater Square on August 12.

The action is held by the activists on the 12th day of every month to defend the 12th article of the Russian Constitution that guarantees the right to local self-governance.

A coordinator for the Left Front opposition movement, Konstantin Kosyakin, was among the detained activists, RFE/RL reports. Kosyakin was detained when he told journalists that the activists planned to march to the presidential administration building.

Moscow authorities had sent additional police to the square in preparation for the protest.

Read more in Russian here

JALAL-ABAD, Kyrgyzstan -- The Kyrgyz Interior Ministry has recommended firing seven police officers following the death of a Russian suspect beaten in a police station, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Kyrgyz Interior Ministry spokesman Rakhmatillo Akhmedov told RFE/RL that the ministry also recommended holding the leadership of the Jalal-Abad regional police department responsible for the incident, which occurred in Jalal-Abad's Bazar-Korgon district.

Akhmedov added that thus far no action has been taken based on the recommendations.

A man named Usmanjan Kholmirzaev, a Russian citizen of Uzbek origin, reportedly died in a Jalal-Abad regional hospital on August 9. Officials gave his first name as Dadamirza in official statements on August 11.

On August 10, Talant Konokbaev, a spokesman for the prosecutor-general, told RFE/RL that Kholmirzaev was beaten by local police on August 7 while being questioned about the deadly clashes between local Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in June last year.

Kholmirzaev returned to his home in the Bazar-Korgon district later that day before being hospitalized on August 8.

Bazar-Korgon's district prosecutor has launched an investigation into abuse of office and premeditated damage to a person's health.

Jalal-Abad police department deputy chief Melis Sheraliev confirmed to RFE/RL that Kholmirzaev was brought to Bazar-Korgon's police headquarters for questioning on August 7. He said the results of an ongoing investigation will clarify whether Kholmirzaev was beaten while in custody.

Read more in Kyrgyz here