Friday morning a large crowd gathered in Bishkek’s center for a memorial to the at least 75 people who died this week in deadly protests.
After, many volunteers took to cleaning the streets.
“This morning shows signs of optimism in the city. The streets are being cleaned and Bishkek’s citizens seem to actively engage in putting a stop to the looting and disorder. Also, Police Officers are back on the streets – so far only a few, but still that’s better than none”, says Tatiana Kotova, DanChurchAid’s Regional Representative in Kyrgyzstan.
DanChurchAid’s office in Bishkek will officially remain closed until further notice.
Armed young men
The armed young men who entered into Bishkek by the truckload yesterday were dropped off in different parts of the city.
They were highly aggressive and attacked several journalists.
The provisional government seems to some extent to have gained control over the Police and Army and the Police have been instructed to open fire on looters if necessary.
Continued power struggle
The former President Bakiyev is in Jalalabad, where he traditionally has many supporters. Yesterday he insisted that he has no plans to resign. The head of the provisional government, Roza Otumbaeva, replied that - no matter what Bakiyev has said - the people have dismissed him.
Reactions abroad
So far Russia is the only country, which has congratulated the new government.
Yesterday, an American diplomat met with Rosa Otunbajeva, the interim leader, in order to discuss the future of the U.S. air base in the country.
The provisional government in Kyrgyzstan has promised the Americans that they can keep their air base for the time being.