Women attacked by men then detained by police at International Women’s Day rally in Kyrgyzstan

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Police in the capital of Kyrgyzstan have detained about 60 people after a rally to mark International Women’s Day was broken up by a group of men.

The disorder took place in a main square in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday.

Kyrgyzstan Women’s Day
Masked nationalists attack women’s rights activists during the celebration of the International Women’s Day in Victory Square in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Vladimir Voronin/AP)

Demonstrators gathered for a rally to express support for women’s and children’s rights, but unidentified males barged into the gathering.

Bishkek police said people from both sides were detained, but news reports said the detainees were primarily women.

Kyrgyzstan Women’s Day
Policemen detain a woman in Victory Square during celebrations for International Women’s Day in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Vladimir Voronin/AP)

The Akipress news agency cited lawyer Bakytbek Aftandil as saying those detained were released several hours later and that about 10 of them had been charged with resisting police, which carries a fine of 3,000 soms (£33).

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