Kyrgyz Editor Freed Unexpectedly

Babyrbek Jeenbekov, editor in chief of the independent Kyrgyz newspaper "Open Politics" (Achyk saiasat), was freed today after being detained on Tuesday by police.

Authorities had no comment on Jeenbekov's sudden release.

A crowd of Jeenbekov supporters and NGO members cheered him upon his release. They were holding a protest picket in front of the Sverdlov district court in Bishkek.

Jeenbekov told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that the next issue of "Open Politics" will be published tomorrow.