#148: Impunity

... is the cause of all these beatings here, here, here, and there. According to these news reports, party activists from Atameken, SDPK, Asaba parties are being attacked by unknown people as they are preparing for the December 16 vote. Not only political activism is becoming too dangerous, but journalists who are trying to do their jobs well are being attacked (or killed). Even if these cases are not political motivated, victims (and observers) are losing hope that the police will find the attackers. These cases are not being investigated and the criminals are not being held responsible.

I even stopped confronting the pick-pockets in public transportation in fear of being beaten by them. Most of the time they get away with it because they enjoy the protection of the Kyrgyz police for a share of booty. Kyrgyz law enforcement has the lowest public trust, and as a result criminals, like late Rysbek Akmatbaev, are enjoying the trust because they are seen as Robin Hoods who can protect the poor and the desperate. Plus, our authorities and politicians, including opposition ones, like to flirt with the criminals for own purposes.