Hundreds protested in front of the Kyrgyz government headquarters on Monday, asking authorities to follow up on media investigations into allegations of money laundering, involving $ 700 million in money laundering by former senior officials.
Kyrgyzstan is a close ally of Moscow, home of Russian military bases, and the most politically turbulent country in Central Asia. Protests turned into violent riots and overthrew two Kyrgyz presidents in 2005 and 2010.
Several local and international media released a survey report this month that a well-connected group has been smuggling Chinese goods into Kyrgyzstan for years and then shipping its profits out of the country.
Some carried posters saying “Return our money” and “Kyrgyzstan is not impoverished, Kyrgyzstan is being robbed”.
The Kyrgyz government has said it was investigating the allegations made in the report.