BISHKEK, August 7. /TASS/. Kyrgyzstan’s law enforcement agencies have detained the country’s former President Almazbek Atambayev, a spokesperson for the ex-president’s team told TASS.

"Special forces members have detained Atambayev, taking him to an unknown location," the spokesperson said. According to him, Atambayev’s supporters tried to prevent his detention, ten people, including a reporter and a local lawmaker, suffered injuries.

"Supporters keep coming to Atambayev’s house, up to 500 people have gathered there. They are building barricades and trying to break inside the house," the spokesperson added.

Detention operation

Kyrgyzstan’s State National Security Committee has confirmed that an operation is taking place to detain the former president.

"Special forces members haven’t used assault weapons during the operation. They only used rubber bullets. The detention operation is still underway," the Kabar news agency quoted a Committee spokesperson as saying.

Charges against Atambayev

On June 27, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament voted to strip Atambayev of immunity and ex-president status. The former president’s lawyer said the move ran counter to the country’s Constitution.