The Russian Foreign Ministry has addressed the controversy surrounding the brutal detention of Kyrgyz citizens at the Bodrost bathhouse in Moscow, following a high-profile raid by law enforcement.
The ministry clarified that the operation, which took place on April 10, was a planned inspection and was not directed at any particular nationality. The statement comes in response to viral videos showing the harsh treatment of detainees and subsequent protests from Kyrgyzstan.
The raid, conducted in the Timiryazevsky district of Moscow, involved officers from the police, Federal Security Service (FSB), and National Guard of Russia (Rosgvardia). Of the 59 individuals detained, 25 were found to be in violation of Russian migration laws. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, some of the detainees are suspected of having ties to radical groups.
"Based on available information, foreign citizens resisted law enforcement officers during the operation. As a result, appropriate measures were taken. At the same time, our security personnel acted within their legal authority and in full compliance with Russian law," the ministry stated.
The Russian side further stressed that the operation was not aimed at any specific nationality.
Kyrgyzstan’s Response
The incident drew significant attention after videos of the detentions emerged on social media, showing security officers using force to subdue men in the bathhouse. The visuals sparked outrage in Kyrgyzstan, where officials demanded an explanation from the Russian authorities. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry sent a formal note to Russian Ambassador Sergey Vakunov, urging a clarification of the reasons behind the use of force and demanding that the rights of Kyrgyz citizens be respected.
Kyrgyzstan’s ombudsman, Jamilya Dzhamanbaeva, raised concerns over the "proportionality" of the force used, questioning whether the detention methods were justified.
"Any administrative or forceful measures against Kyrgyz citizens must comply with procedural rights and international obligations," she stated during a meeting with Russian ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova.
Dzhamanbaeva reminded Moscow of Kyrgyzstan’s full membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, which entails adherence to specific human rights standards.
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