RFE/RL reports that 200 people stormed a hotel in Osh.
“I’m now hearing gunfire from Kalashnikovs. About 200 men, who earlier attempted to occupy the Hotel Alay, are now hiding near the premises. Ordinary people who live nearby are in a panic. They are running away and driving away quickly,” Joldoshev reported.
The incident began with a group of men armed with wooden clubs forcing their way into the hotel before being repelled by security guards. The guards reportedly chased the group outside before firing their weapons into the air. Several people were reportedly injured in the incident.
The men storming the hotel were believed to be opponents of parliament deputy Bayaman Erkinbaev. It is not known whether the attack was politically motivated, although a demonstration was recently held in Kara-Suu to protest what they said were his corrupt financial dealings.
And on June 11, Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s campaign headquarters was stormed and two of his guards were beaten.
The way it’s going, it looks like it’s going to be a rocky ride to July 11.
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Nathan Hamm – author of 2040 posts on Registan.net.
Nathan founded Registan.net in 2003. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan 2000-2001 and received his MA in Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Since 2007, he has worked full-time as an analyst, consulting with clients on Central Asian affairs, specializing in how socio-cultural factors shape risks and opportunities. Follow him on Twitter or drop him a line.