Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of recent political developments in Kyrgyzstan.

We are monitoring political developments in Kyrgyzstan following the arrest of former President Atambayev. There have been limited incidents of violence and unrest. We believe that it is important for the United Kingdom to continue to maintain its support, through our political engagement and programme activity, for Kyrgyzstan's ambition to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. Our Ambassador frequently engages with the Kyrgyz Government, stressing the importance of democratic standards and a free and fair judicial system for all. The United Kingdom's programme funding also works to support Kyrgyzstan's continued transition to a parliamentary democracy.