The authorities of Kyrgyzstan agree to negotiations but the opposition does not have anyone to negotiate with: the president is not available

The Navruz, one of the most important holidays in the region, is celebrated in Central Asia, today.

The spring holiday is known as the Nooruz in Bishkek. Every year, between 8,000 and 10,000 people assemble in the central square of the capital and the president addresses the nation.

Everything is different now. There are about 500 policemen in the central square of Bishkek, and no festivities.

As soon as the first suspicions that Askar Akayev was abroad appeared (and the president has not addressed the nation yet), general public began waiting for the Navruz - the day when the national leader always appears in public. It did not happen yesterday, when the events in the Dzhalalabad region were under way, or today.

All of that enables the opposition to maintain that the president fled the country.

Press service of the head of the Kyrgyz state maintains that Akayev is in Bishkek regardless of what certain reports in media outlets imply. The president remains in the Government House and "does not plan leaving", Akayev's press service announced.

State TV channels were broadcasting concerts during the clashes between the police and protesters and riots in the Dzhalalabad region, yesterday.

Sultan Kanazarov (Bishkek), Daniil Kislov (Moscow)