Kyrgyzstan Marks Uprising Date in Sorrow

Memorial ceremonies were held across Kyrgyzstan on April 7 to mark the first anniversary of a popular revolt that forced the country’s president Kurmanbek Bakiev out of office.

At least 70 people died as police fired into crowds of demonstrators as anti-government protests in the capital Bishkek reached their peak on April 6-7, 2010.

Current head of state Roza Otunbaeva and other officials laid wreaths and flowers on the graves of protesters at the Ata-Beyit cemetery, where especially honoured individuals are laid to rest. Official ceremonies also took place in central Bishkek, where prayers for the dead were recited in ten yurts, the traditional Kyrgyz tents, put up for the occasion.

In the capital’s Ala-Too square, where security forces fired on protesters outside the White House government building last April, a crowd gathered to observe a minute’s silence.