Kyrgyz Protest At Belarusian Embassy For Bakiev Extradition

A small group of activists in Bishkek has protested outside the Belarusian Embassy to demand the extradition of former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

The activists, from "The Seventh of April" human rights group, clapped their hands in front of the embassy for two hours on August 10.

Bakiev has been living in Belarus at President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's invitation since his ouster in a popular uprising in April 2010.

He is being tried in absentia in Bishkek along with 27 of his former associates and relatives over the deaths of nearly 100 antigovernment protesters.

Ondurush Toktonasyrov, the leader of "The Seventh of April" group, told RFE/RL that he and his associates are also expressing solidarity with Belarusian opposition activists "persecuted by Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime for expressing their views."