Do you fear walking around Bishkek at night?

Night city always attracts with its clubs, bars, restaurants lure by their neon signs and billboards. It seems rules and restrictions partially disappear when it gets dark. Many behave more relaxed and taking off a mask of decent family man or white-collar worker try to have a good time to the maximum. Criminality, robberies, beatings and assaults are on rise, exactly at night. The news agency 24.kg asks Bishkek residents whether they fear walking around the capital at night?

Tursunbek Akun, Ombudsman of Kyrgyzstan:

I am absolutely not afraid of walking around Bishkek in dark hours. Furthermore, if I have spare time, I walk around public places and pars with pleasure. Personally I have not faced any attacks or robberies yet.

Tolekan Ismailova, Chairwoman of non-commercial and non-governmental organizations’ association:

As a human rights activist, I can say that I do not fear. Due to my professional activity I constantly have to visit flashpoints and carry out monitoring in crisis situations. As for my opinion as a common citizen, I surely fear. Bishkek is dangerous not only at night but in day hours as well.

Irina Karelina, a translator:

Yes, I do. That is why I do not go out alone late at night. There is a high crime rate in our city. One can not rely on police in case of attack. People are rather afraid of them than trust.

Yuri Belogortsev, a lawyer:

Frankly speaking, I do sometimes. I live in an urban district which is considered to be quiet, but I hear about attacks and beatings from time to time. If to speak about the downtown, I fear more. Sometimes even driving there is dangerous at night.

Aziza Abdirasulova, a human rights activist:

Yes, I have fear. I try not to leave my house at night, but if I have something urgent to do, I always ask my husband or somebody else to accompany me. However, I am more afraid of the police than bandits. Exactly police officers frequently arrest, beat up and extort money.

Liliya Dragunova, a retiree:

Why should not I fear? See what happens in our country: murders, attacks. One of my friends told me about an old woman who was robbed and insulted on her way home from work at a broad daylight. Have you ever seen such lack of respect to the elders? And you ask about walks at night. Surely I fear and I would not advise it to others.

Andrei Tsai, a designer:

What should I fear? I have always been fond of walking around our city at night since my school time. Robberies, violence and suchlike can happen to everyone. You say, crime is on rise at night, it is dangerous, but is it safer during a day? I have witnessed several uncontrolled crimes at day hours, but never - at night.