OSCE Chairperson-in-Office expresses serious concern about recent developments in Kyrgyzstan

VIENNA, 5 April 2000 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, is seriously concerned about reports on the harassment of human rights activists and leaders of the political opposition in Kyrgyzstan. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office reaffirms that these trends could have a negative impact on the democratic development of the country.

In particular, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is alarmed and dismayed at the detention of opposition leader Felix Kulov, whose declared hunger strike and whose health condition gives rise to concern about whether he is receiving the necessary medical care in confinement. Another reason for concern is the reported recent arrest of Daniyar Usenov. Moreover, accusations against representatives of civil society, such as the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights, and independent media, such as Res Publica, are particularly worrying.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office welcomes the statement by the Press-Secretary of President Akaev of 3 April, in which he expresses the President's firm determination to adhere to the course of democratic reforms and to secure the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Kyrgyz citizens as well as to take into consideration the lessons learned from the recent elections. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office calls on the Kyrgyz leadership to enter into a genuine dialogue with all political forces of the country in order to promote peace and stability, on the basis of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.