Kyrgyzstan's Interior Ministry officers have reportedly detained suspects involved in planning mass unrest and a violent seizure of power, including foreign nationals. The Interior Ministry’s press center reported this on November 12.
"Officers from the Interior Ministry Main Criminal Investigation Department received information about a group preparing mass unrest and destabilizing the socio-political situation. According to the data obtained, the group was organized to incite mass unrest and seize power by force. Each participant had a designated role (organizers, accomplices, financiers, executors)," the statement read.
According to the ministry, the organizers planned to incite violence during sports events in the suburbs of Bishkek, promote anti-constitutional calls, destabilize the situation, and ultimately seize power during local council elections on November 17, 2024.
During operational and investigative activities, seven group members were detained, three of whom are foreign nationals (the countries are unspecified). It was noted that two of the foreigners had prior combat experience in another country. The detainees were found in possession of weapons, ammunition, narcotics, drones, "1,000 bottles of vodka to intoxicate the crowd, 2,000 bottles of mineral water, 1 ton of rice, one horse for slaughter, and ingredients to cook pilaf for participants of the unrest."
The detainees face charges under the provisions of several articles of Kyrgyzstan's Criminal Code, including Articles 278 – organization of preparations for mass unrest; Article 261 – creation of an organized group; Article 263 — financing an organized group; Article 326 — attempted violent seizure of power; and Article 256 — participation of a citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic in armed conflicts or hostilities in a foreign state. An investigation is under way.
This marks the second attempted coup in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (GKNB) said on July 5 that its special forces had blocked an attempt to seize power. "The illegal activities of a destructive group that had plans to forcibly seize power and destabilize the socio-political situation in the country through mass riots that could potentially harm innocent citizens were suppressed," a GKNB statement sourced by Kyrgyz news agency AKIpress said. "Five citizens were detained and placed in the temporary detention center of the SCNS." Large quantities of firearms, improvised explosive device components, ammunition, bulletproof vests were allegedly uncovered by law enforcement agencies.
