The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan has summoned Russian Ambassador Sergey Vakunov and presented a diplomatic note demanding an explanation for the detention of a group of Kyrgyz nationals at a Moscow bathhouse. The incident was reported by the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry's press service.
According to the ministry, the event took place at the Bodrost bath complex on April 11, although surveillance footage shows the date as April 10. Kyrgyz MP Janar Akaev, who shared photos and videos of the incident on his Facebook page (banned in Russia and owned by Meta, which is designated as extremist there), said the bathhouse belongs to a fellow Kyrgyz national.
The videos show masked officers with red armbands beating men, forcing them face down to the ground, making them crawl or move on their knees, and stepping on their backs.
“Fellow citizens, can you believe that a large group of men along with OMON stormed a Moscow bathhouse owned by a Kyrgyz entrepreneur and savagely beat our compatriots? Where are the responses from the authorities, the Foreign Ministry, the embassy? Not long ago, there was another raid on a Kyrgyz-owned business, and people were beaten worse than by any criminal gang or terrorist. We are members of the EAEU, allies, strategic partners—are we to allow our citizens to be beaten by the hundreds and remain silent?” Akaev wrote, according to a translation by 24.kg.
One of the detained individuals, a man named Alihan, said they were beaten and held inside the bathhouse for five hours. They attempted to flee but were caught, beaten with batons and stun guns, and forced to keep their heads down. One man had half his beard shaved off for resisting. No reason for the assault was given, and no documents were checked. The violence reportedly ended only after senior officers arrived. The detainees were taken to different police stations, and Alihan was released two hours later after paying a fine. According to him, the incident occurred on April 10.
“The Russian side has received an official note requesting information on the legal grounds for the police operation, as well as the use of force against the detained citizens. Should the use of force be deemed unjustified, we demand appropriate measures be taken against the law enforcement officers involved in this incident,” the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry stated.
Russian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Sergey Vakunov and Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Almaz Imangaziev. Photo courtesy of Kyrgyz MFA press service
The Kyrgyz side also urged Russia to take effective steps to protect the rights of Kyrgyz nationals and to prevent similar incidents in the future, warning that such actions could damage the allied and strategic partnership between the two countries.
