MOSCOW, May 13 (RIA Novosti) - Head of the State Duma committee on international affairs Konstantin Kosachev says so far there is no reason to talk of a velvet revolution being schemed currently in for Uzbekistan.
"Talking of a velvet revolution scheme is premature. It is rather a popular reaction to what is going on in Uzbekistan and the adjacent states," Kosachev told journalists, having noted that there were "no grounds" to talk of third countries being involved.
"It is premature due to the lack of information to draw any definite conclusions," the Duma deputy said. Nevertheless, he gave versions of the developments in Uzbekistan.
The first, local version may be evidence of a conflict between the authorities and residents of Andizhan. Second, "it can be only the beginning. Only a weak link has shown up and things may spill over the entire Republic of Uzbekistan," Kosachev said. "If the first version is the matter, things have to be cleared up and the culprits punished," he says. If it turns out to be an all-encompassing event, then "it is an alarming circumstance," Kosachev said.
Uzbekistan is not the most undemocratic state and the possibility of a political dialogue between the authorities and civil society has not been exhausted at all, he noted. Kosachev warned participants in street demonstrations that they should not cherish illusions that meetings and demonstrations may sooner reach the desired result than a political dialogue. "It is an illusion," Kosachev says.
He did not rule out the possibility of Russia's involvement as an intermediary between the authorities and residents of Andizhan. "I'd welcome Russia's possible participation in the process if it can prevent the further bloodshed," Kosachev said.
He also said that the Fergana valley is among the most unstable regions in Central Asia and "we have expected alarming events to happen there sooner or later."
