Constitutional Chamber

In June 2019, MPs voted to strip Atambayev of his presidential immunity and called for the pursuit of criminal charges on him.^[12] Before that, in February, Head of Constitutional Chamber Erkinbek Mamyrov publicly made a statement that “there is no retroactivity of law” and Almazbek Atambaev can not be deprived of presidential immunity in accordance with the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic of May 15, 2019 on amendments to the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Guarantees for the Activities of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic”.^[13] The chairman of the Constitutional Chamber Mamyrov was replaced by an assistant to the president's brother - Asylbek Jeenbekov - in parliament.^[14]

In response, Atambayev told reporters at his residence in Koy-Tash that he would wait for decision of Constitutional Chamber and protect his constitutional rights: "The Constitutional Court must put an end to the question of the legality or illegality of interrogation".^[15] At that time he was still guarded by state security officers, since his complaint to Constitutional Court was under consideration and he was entitled to state protection.^[16]

Beginning

In the courtyard of the house of the ex-president of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev, from 18:30 on August 7, 2019, a lecture by expert Bolot Aitkulov began, which gathered people.^[17] On August 7, 2019, in the village of Koi-Tash, a group of unidentified persons in military uniforms without identification marks started shooting on the civilians. At about 19:50, without any warning, climbing over the fence into the courtyard of the house of ex-president Almazbek Atambayev, unknown persons in military uniforms, wearing masks and with weapons in their hands, invaded. They immediately began shooting at civilians, as well as brutally beating them^[18][19] The requests of the elderly, women and children to let them out of the territory of the house of ex-president Almazbek Atambayev were ignored by a group of unknown persons in military uniforms, masked and with weapons in their hands, moreover, all people were herded into the Conference Hall.^[20] In the events of August 7–8, about a thousand ordinary citizens suffered various injuries.^[21] Head of the State Committee for National Security, Opumbaev, stated that he was very sorry that he did not give the order to shoot at citizens to kill.^[22]

Actions by the armed security against civilians provoked a mass gathering of citizens around the house of the ex-president of the Kyrgyz Republic, Almazbek Atambayev. People also began to flock to the place due to the fact that their wives, spouses and children came to the lecture to save their wives, children and old people who were at a meeting with the ex-president of the Kyrgyz Republic Atambayev.^[23][24]

Assassination attempt

Kursan Asanov, vice-minister of Internal Affairs and head of Atambaev`s arrest operation, told that during the storm of his residence in August 2019, when more than a thousand of representatives of law enforcement agencies stormed his house in Koy-Tash village, there was an order "not to take ex-president Atambaev alive".^[25]

Next day

On August 8, 2019, during a repeated attempt to capture the ex-president of the Kyrgyz Republic Atambayev  law enforcement officers burned mountain pastures, which caused irreparable damage to the livestock sector of the villages. In the village of Koi-Tash, special services left special equipment on the territory of other private houses and smashed windows. The special means used against citizens caused irreparable damage to the psychological and physical health of people.^[26]

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov, speaking in the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, admitted that he personally led the operation and chose the assault option.^[27]

Mass arrests and beating

On September 9, 2019, 1700 people turned to the General Prosecutor's Office with a collective appeal and a request to initiate criminal cases against the head of the State Committee for National Security Orozbek Opumbaev, the leaders of the Alpha special forces and the Minister of Internal Affairs Kashkar Dzhunushaliev.^[28] Radio Azattyk (RFE/RL) reported that more than 1000 of local people were injured and suffered during the assault.^[29] Among the victims were well-known statesmen and political figures, for example, deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh of the 5th convocation, ex-permanent representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court N.A. Kassymbekov (fracture of 7 ribs, bruises and injuries to the eyes and facial part), ex-deputy of the 6th convocation of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Miskenbaev M.,^[30] as well as many ordinary citizens , such as Almanbetov D. (gunshot wound of the chest), Namazaliev (through bullet wound of the chest), Sharshenaliev A. (chemical burn of the left leg), Ismailova E. (chemical burn), Osmonalieva K. (gunshot wound of the shin), Kydyrbaev A. (dislocation of the jaw, Esenbaev K. (bullet wound of the shin), Kydyraliev B. (bullet wound of the th laziness), Kamchybek U. K. (open bullet wound), Osmonaliev K. (gunshot wound of the shin), Satybekova S. (fracture of the ulna), Medetbekov S. (gunshot wound of the groin), Sharshenbaev B. (bullet wound of the anterior surface of the lower leg), Imankulov T. (gunshot wound of the gastrocnemius muscle of the lower leg, chest, back), Berdibaev T. ( broken rib), Kakebaev L. (bullet wound of the left forearm), Toktomushev G. (open head injury), Beishenbek u. Y. (gunshot wound of the chest), Choidiev (shoulder wound) and many others.^[31] Members of the SDPK Political Council were also arrested: ex-head of the Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Farid Niyazov, ex-adviser to the speaker of parliament Alga Kylychov,^[32] chairman of the public organization of the heroes of the April Revolution of 2010 Amantur Zhamgyrchiev, former deputy akim of the Issyk-Ata district Kyyaz Smailov. F. Baabiyev, a member of the SDPK, who was twice wounded the day before, was also arrested.^[33]

Arrest of party offices and TV channel

On August 9, 2019, special forces illegally arrested the office of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan and April TV channel. All documents of the party, all organizational equipment and other property belonging to the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan wereconfiscated. Having received information about SDPK members throughout the country on the computers and servers of the SDPK, the special services began to call all SDPK members throughout the country for interrogations.^[34]

Subsequently, 1,700 people sent an appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office of the Kyrgyz Republic with a request to initiate a criminal case against President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.^[35] In response to this, on the contrary, all these 1,700 people began to be called in for interrogations and they were exerted to strong pressure, by uttering warnings and threats.^[36]

On 13 August, Orozbek Opumbayev, the head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), said Atambayev was plotting to topple the government before he was taken into custody.^[37]

International support

On November, 25-27 2022 on Congress of Socialist International in Madrid, the declaration on Kyrgyzstan has been accepted by 93 political parties that stated: “Non-investigation by the procurator and the court of the facts of inflicting severe injuries and the use of brute force using weapons, including cold weapons, against 1,700 civilians in Koi-Tash on August 7–8, suggests an unfair trial, the purpose of which is to cover up the crimes of the previous heads of special services - Opumbaev and Zhunushaliev. The Socialist International notes that these actions of the armed forces against the civilian population fall under the articles of “war crime”, as well as “crime against humanity”, which is an internationally investigated case. If the statements of the affected citizens continue to be ignored, the organization will be forced to assist in the international investigation.”^[38] In August 2023, the issue of the Koy-Tash events was raised in the European Parliament. Deputy Chairman of the Party of European Socialists Katarina Roth Nevedjalova said that “people have been distracted from work for four years and are tired of going to court.” She also noted that law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan have still not answered the questions of 1,700 citizens who complained about the actions of security forces on August 7–8, 2019, and have not yet begun an investigation.^[39] Bishkek did not respond to these statements.^[40]

Revolution and overthrow of Jeenbekov

The Koi-Tash events played a significant role in the political dynamics of Kyrgyzstan, which eventually led to a revolution in October 2020. After a series of protests sparked by allegations of fraudulent parliamentary elections, Jeenbekov was forced to resign, marking the fall of regime.^[41]