18+ "If We Did Something Wrong, We Apologize": Hostage Special Forces Message

In the village of Koi-Tash, Kyrgyzstan, where the residence of former president Almazbek Atambayev is located, special forces members held hostage by Atambayev's supporters have sent a video message. The video was provided by the supporters and published by sputnik.kg.

In the footage, almost all special forces members are seen bandaged. One of them, reportedly the commander, states that they have sworn an oath to the state and the people.

"We serve the people of Kyrgyzstan. In this situation, if we did something wrong, we apologize. We apologize to the people," the man says in the video. Additionally, a voice off-camera inquires about his health, to which he responds that he is fine. At the end, the special forces are asked to say that "the people saved us, protected us from others." One of the special forces members noted that "the jigits provided necessary assistance."

As previously reported by Tert.am, last night, special services began an operation to arrest Atambayev. The operation commenced in the village of Koi-Tash, in the vicinity of his residence. Special measures were applied towards the supporters of the former president, who in turn opened fire. As a result of the incident, 52 people were injured, and one special forces member was killed. One official of the law enforcement system is in a coma. The authorities have been unable to arrest Atambayev.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Kyrgyzstan has opened a criminal case on charges of "mass disorder" and "hooliganism." The reason for the attempt to arrest him was his failure to appear for questioning three times as a witness in the illegal release of criminal authority Aziz Batukaev.

Atambayev served as the president of Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2017, and he voluntarily transferred power to Sooronbay Jeenbekov following the elections.