On April 7 public anger against the regime of President Kurmanbek Bakiev reached the breaking point. Crowds of thousands of protesters assembled and drove him from the White House to his home town in Jalalabad and ultimately out of the country. The government is now in the hands of a transitional interim team of leaders from various opposition parties led by a well-respected and experienced politician, Roza Otunbayeva. The revolution was chronicled in detail through 4/15 in the April Central Asian Partners Newsletter which all Chronicle email readers have received. If you would like a copy, email the editor. Below is a continued chronicle of events after 4/15.
• 4/18 - Bakiev loyalists peacefully seized control of the administration building in Jalalabad. Crowds in Osh protested the new govt.’s appointment of several regional officials. Law enforcement workers protested the appointment of the Interior Minister. Within hours he was replaced.
• 4/19 - Bakiev, who had been evacuated to Kazakstan, departed to an unknown destination. Hundreds of rioters, squatters seeking to take over land for themselves, attacked landowners and set houses afire in the village of Maevka and a second village, outside of Bishkek. Troops and armored vehicles were called out. At least 5 people died in the violence.
• 4/20 - Bakiev showed up in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, while president Alexander Lukashenko declared his personal invitation and protection for the Bakiev family.
• 4/21 - The interim govt. gave orders authorizing the use of "deadly force" against the wave of rioting and looting. Russia ordered its defense minister to "protect Russian citizens and property in Kyrgyzstan". Bakiev publicly insisted to the media that he is still Kyrgyzstan’s legitimate president, despite a handwritten letter of resignation he previously submitted.
• 4/22 - The interim govt. announced plans for a vote on a new constitution on July 27 which will restrict presidential powers and increase parliamentary power, and will be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections on October 10. It also seized more than $20 million in cash and gold uncovered in Bakiev family accounts in Kyrgyz banks. The US Embassy announced voluntary departure for some personnel.
• 4/27 - Bakiev was formally charged with mass murder of protesters and plans were announced to charge other govt. and family members. Belarus is not expected to send him back, though Russia earlier sent the former interior minister back to Kyrgyzstan on 4/19 to stand trial.
• 4/18 - Bakiev loyalists peacefully seized control of the administration building in Jalalabad. Crowds in Osh protested the new govt.’s appointment of several regional officials. Law enforcement workers protested the appointment of the Interior Minister. Within hours he was replaced.
• 4/19 - Bakiev, who had been evacuated to Kazakstan, departed to an unknown destination. Hundreds of rioters, squatters seeking to take over land for themselves, attacked landowners and set houses afire in the village of Maevka and a second village, outside of Bishkek. Troops and armored vehicles were called out. At least 5 people died in the violence.
• 4/20 - Bakiev showed up in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, while president Alexander Lukashenko declared his personal invitation and protection for the Bakiev family.
• 4/21 - The interim govt. gave orders authorizing the use of "deadly force" against the wave of rioting and looting. Russia ordered its defense minister to "protect Russian citizens and property in Kyrgyzstan". Bakiev publicly insisted to the media that he is still Kyrgyzstan’s legitimate president, despite a handwritten letter of resignation he previously submitted.
• 4/22 - The interim govt. announced plans for a vote on a new constitution on July 27 which will restrict presidential powers and increase parliamentary power, and will be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections on October 10. It also seized more than $20 million in cash and gold uncovered in Bakiev family accounts in Kyrgyz banks. The US Embassy announced voluntary departure for some personnel.
• 4/27 - Bakiev was formally charged with mass murder of protesters and plans were announced to charge other govt. and family members. Belarus is not expected to send him back, though Russia earlier sent the former interior minister back to Kyrgyzstan on 4/19 to stand trial.
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