Results of ballistic expertise of guns used during disorders in Kyrgyzstan

The investigation committee finished the ballistic expertise of the guns used on March 17 during the disorders in southern Kyrgyzstan. According to the Kyrgyz Prosecutor General, Chubak Abyshkaev, the guns were registered on the former deputy head of the Aksy region department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and on a fighter of the Interior Ministry special purpose unit.

The prosecutor pointed out that the investigation committee will establish whether or not the use of guns by people, whose names are still kept secret, was legal.

After the tragic events in the Aksy region the General Prosecutor's Office started five criminal cases in relation to eight people, charged with the illegal use of guns, Abyshkaev was quoted as saying.

The bullets for the expertise had been extracted from the bodies of the residents of the Dzhalal-Abad region, wounded when the police tried to scatter the unsanctioned demonstration, said the Prosecutor General.

Five natives were shot dead and several more were wounded during the police attempt to break up the demonstration.

The demonstration was intended as a protest against the arrest of Kyrgyz MP Azimbek Beknazarov, charged with abuse of position during his service as an investigator at the Prosecutor's Office.

Meanwhile, several hundred residents of the Aksy region are currently picketing the Office of the Regional Administration in Dzhalal-Abad, demanding the call back of the sentence brought out against Beknazarov.

According to the Kyrgyz General Prosecutor's Office, the law enforcement bodies estimate that about 700 people are taking part in the demonstration.