On 9 October 2020, an unidentified assailant fired shots during an anti-government demonstration in Ala-Too Square in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. Preliminary reports indicate that the assailant fired at a vehicle carrying former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev. At least one person has been reported injured due to the event, but further details on the situation — including the potential for other casualties — are unavailable at this time.
Separately, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov issued a decree imposing a state of emergency in Bishkek, which — pending the approval of parliament — will go into effect at 2000 local time (1400 UTC) on 9 October and last until 0800 local time on 21 October. The state of emergency will include a nightly curfew, extensive restrictions on movement, state control of the media, and restrictions on protest activities.
