Kyrgyzstan president declares state of emergency over heavy riots

Several clashes have occurred between police and protesters demanding the renouncement of the agreement to develop the Kumtor gold mine, Interfax reported.

One of the clashes erupted outside the Volga holiday hotel, located in the village of Tamga, where people detained for paralyzing traffic along the road leading to Kumtor were convoyed by police on Friday morning.

A group of residents attacked policemen in an attempt to free the detained people, a Kyrgyz Interior Ministry spokesman told Interfax.

They forced their way onto the premises of the holiday hotel guarded by law enforcement agencies and started to throw stones at police officers.

"In response to the protesters' illegal actions, police used tear gas and flashbang grenades. Both policemen and protesters were injured. Their number is being clarified," the spokesman said.

Eyewitnesses told Interfax that police also used batons and rubber bullets to force the protesters to leave the site.
The Interior Ministry spokesman, for his part, said that he "has no such information."

Apart from that, protesters also tried to enter the office of the Kumtor Operating Company (KOC), which develops the Kumtor gold mine, in the village of Barskaun on Friday morning. They hurled stones at policemen guarding the office, forcing the officers to use flash bang grenades. Several policemen were reportedly injured.