04-18-06,8:46am

ANKARA, 17 Apr 2006 (IRIN) - Civil society groups in Kyrgyzstan have expressed concern over a recent attack on a pro-democracy activist, claiming that organised crime was seeking access to political power in the former Soviet republic.

'What happened to Edil Baisalov [head of the local Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, local pro-democracy group] is very frightening,' Tolekan Ismailova, head of the human rights centre 'Citizens against corruption', said from the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on Monday.

'However, what is most frightening is that criminal groups have established strong links with the government under the previous regime. And today they demand participation in political life,' Ismailova added.

An unidentified man hit Baisalov in the back of the head on 12 April, just several days after Baisalov had led a demonstration that gathered around 2,000 in the capital to protest against organised crime.

The demonstration was one day before the 9 April by-elections in the country, in which Rysbek Akmatbaev, a controversial candidate, was running in one of the constituencies. Akmatbaev, an alleged criminal boss, had been accused of involvement in the killing of a high-ranking police official.

Elnura Osmonalieva, head of Kyrgyzstan's Student Union, shared those concerns. 'I was shocked when I learnt about it because this attack came so unexpectedly. We thought that Edil - due to this activity and outspoken criticism of the links between organised criminal groups and government [bodies] - would be too obvious a target and that the criminal groups would not dare to target him,' she said.

'The form, the timing and place of the assault were very bold and provoking, which was very shocking. It was an attempt on his life during the daytime, in front of his office, which is not far from the office of the prosecutor-general,' Osmonalieva said.

Their comments came after Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international rights watchdog, on Friday called upon Bishkek to ensure that the investigation into the attack was thorough, independent and capable of leading to prosecution.

“This is a shocking attempt on the life of a respected human rights defender and champion of the rule of law,” Holly Cartner, HRW's Europe and Central Asia Director, said in a statement. “The government of Kyrgyzstan must bring the perpetrator to justice and show that such violence will not be tolerated.”

Doctors said that Baisalov sustained a closed cerebral fracture and concussion, saying that he was in relatively satisfactory condition. The police downplayed the reports that he had been shot, saying that according to preliminary reports he was hit with a blunt instrument. Doctors are reportedly conducting tests to determine whether he was shot or struck.

Also on Friday, over 20 local civil society groups and political parties condemned the attack in a statement. 'We are calling upon all citizens who are not indifferent to the fate of our country to unite against criminal anarchism,' the statement read.