13th January, 2005

Front Line is deeply concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Tursunbek Akunov. Tursunbek Akunov is a prominent human rights defender and the chair of the Human Rights Defending Movement in Kyrgyzstan: a network of partner non- governmental organisations and human rights activists who seek reform and an end to corruption. Tursunbek Akunov has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the current government and, just prior to his arrest, he was involved in collecting signatures, at prominent locations around Bishkek, for a petition which calls on the President, Askar Akaev, to resign. According to reports received by Front Line, Tursunbek Akunov failed to return home on the evening of 16th November 2004 after he was summoned to a meeting with representatives of the National Security Service (NSS). He was scheduled to fly, along with a number of other NGO members and journalists to Kiev, on the evening of 17th November in order to monitor the Ukraine presidential elections. His ticket and passport remain at home. Days before, on 15th November 2004 Tursunbeck Akunov reported that he had been followed for 10-days by unknown men in a car. Front Line has requested that the Kyrgyz authorities take immediate action to investigate his whereabouts, guarantee his safety and secure his release. This page was posted on 18th November, 2004