The parliament of Kyrgyzstan amended the law on the status of national lawmakers, yesterday, and permitted them to go armed. Deputy Asamidin Maripov told journalists that firearms would be "issued on the request to the parliament chairman." Moreover, firearms will be issued for life and not for the term of office. "We have to decide now what structure will be put in charge of the issuance," Maripov said.

Two lawmakers and one election winner were assassinated in Kyrgyzstan over the last twelve months. Another parliamentarian was murdered when inspecting a maximum security colony.

Deputy Interior Minister Temirkan Subanov tried to dissuade the parliament but his protestations were ignored. As far as the Interior Ministry is concerned, it will but worsen the general state of affairs because the underworld will certainly make use of the opportunities presented by so many firearms in private hands.

"No foreign legislation permits senators or deputies to go armed for purposes of self-defense," Subanov said. He said it would be better to include additional sums in the national budget for defense of civil servants and politicians.

According to the data compiled by the Interior Ministry, 22 lawmakers of 75 already possess firearms (some of them more than one). Prime Minister Felix Kulov has already given the order to run a check of "all firearms handed out as gifts and permits for them since June 1999" and to confiscate all finagled ones. As things stand, the Interior Ministry and other ministries and departments are too free with giving firearms away as gifts.

Kommersant, December 15, 2006, p. 10

© Translated by Ferghana.Ru