Kyrgyzstan Marks Uprising Date in Sorrow

Images of commemorations for those killed in April 2010 violence.

Kyrgyzstan Marks Uprising Date in Sorrow

Images of commemorations for those killed in April 2010 violence.

As part of national commemorations of the 2010 revolution and the violence that accompanied it, mourners visited the graves of relatives killed during the protests. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
As part of national commemorations of the 2010 revolution and the violence that accompanied it, mourners visited the graves of relatives killed during the protests. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Kyrgyz president Roza Otunbaeva (right) and parliamentary speaker Ahmatbek Keldibekov attending an April 7 remembrance ceremony at the Ata-Beyit cemetery. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Kyrgyz president Roza Otunbaeva (right) and parliamentary speaker Ahmatbek Keldibekov attending an April 7 remembrance ceremony at the Ata-Beyit cemetery. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Relatives at the graveside during the memorial service at Ata-Beyit. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Relatives at the graveside during the memorial service at Ata-Beyit. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
A photograph of the deceased marks one of many graves. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
A photograph of the deceased marks one of many graves. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Prayers were also held in central Bishkek on April 7. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Prayers were also held in central Bishkek on April 7. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
A plaque on the gates of the White House bears the names of those who died when police fired on protestors. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
A plaque on the gates of the White House bears the names of those who died when police fired on protestors. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Inside one of the ten traditional yurts where prayers were said for those killed one year ago. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)
Inside one of the ten traditional yurts where prayers were said for those killed one year ago. (Photo: Igor Kovalenko)

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. 

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