Nine days of opposition protests against the Kurmanbek Bakiyev regime were suppressed after the rallies turned violent April 19. Authorities launched a probe into the events, arrested two prominent members of the radical United Front opposition movement, and searched its headquarters and the offices of the newspapers that covered the protests.
"I see it as a political way of threatening political opponents," said Kulov, who was himself interrogated for nine hours Saturday. "As a party leader, I will use all possible legal methods to fight against the regime, which is stifling democracy."
Police detained two other United Front leaders - police Gen. Omurbek Suvanaliyev, chief of staff, and Omurbek Abdrakhmanov after the protests, which called for a new Constitution to curb presidential powers and early elections. Opposition leaders have denied responsibility for the events, which took place on the central square in Bishkek, saying the crowd had refused to obey their orders.
Bishkek city authorities said they would sue the opposition for damage caused to the city by the rallies, which they estimate at about $26,000.
