BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (BO correspondent) In a recent development in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Edil Baisalov, made a visit to the International University of Kyrgyzstan’s Faculty of Medicine dormitory. This visit comes in the wake of an attack on the dormitory by looters and hooligans on the night of May 18th.
Baisalov was accompanied by Hasan Ali Zaigham, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to the Kyrgyz Republic, and Asylbek Aidaraliev, the President of the International University of Kyrgyzstan and Academician of the National Academy of Sciences.
Addressing the foreign students and teachers, Baisalov expressed his sympathy and apologised for the harm and violence inflicted upon them by the hooligans. He emphasised that these criminal acts were not representative of the culture and traditions of hospitality of the Kyrgyz people.
Baisalov reassured the students that they were safe in Kyrgyzstan and that the authorities were fully responsible for their well-being. He also stated that law enforcement agencies were conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and would bring all those responsible to justice.
The official also took the time to inspect the premises and rooms where the students live. This visit followed a spontaneous protest against foreigners that began on the evening of May 17th and ended the following morning. The police managed to negotiate with the protesters, who eventually dispersed. The Ministry of Health reported that 29 people were injured during the protests.
The police have detained four Egyptian citizens in connection with a brawl at a hostel on May 13th. A criminal case has been initiated under the article ‘Hooliganism’ of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.
