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Alert

"Tribuna" newspaper editor beaten, threatened by unknown persons

(PAJ/IFEX) - On 7 May 2009, Yrysbek Omurzakov, the chief editor of the independent social and political newspaper "Tribuna", was beaten in Bishkek.

The attack happened in the center of city. Omurzakov was on his way to work with his son, when he stopped his car because two others were blocking their way. Once they had stopped, three unknown persons began to beat Omurzako's head and groin. There were a lot of people present, but they could not stop them.

Omurzakov said he was sure that this attack was connected with his professional activity. The attackers mentioned threats connected with his professional work and said that it would not be the last time he saw them.

"Tribuna" newspaper publishes sharp and critical material. As a result of this, there have been a lot of legal proceedings against the newspaper. There have also been threats made by unsatisfied persons addressed to the newspaper's editorial staff.

Public Association "Journalists" has made an appeal addressed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will take over the investigation of this crime.

This was the fourth case of an attack on a journalist since the beginning of the year.