Hot News 2005

 

March 23

Head of journalists' union injured by police while covering protest

 

On 23 March 2005, Azamat Kalman, the chairman of the independent Trade Union of Journalists, was injured while police were dispersing protesters who were demanding President Askar Akayev's resignation. At the time of the incident, Kalman was covering the protest in the capital, Bishkek. Shortly after the demonstration started, police pushed the journalist and several protesters to an underground subway passage and began beating them with batons. The police officers threw Kalman from a wall. He fell about three metres and was subsequently taken to hospital with serious leg injuries.

 

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