Kazakh authorities release well-known Kyrgyz musician

Kazakhstan authorities have released well-kwn Kyrgyz musician Vikram Ruzakhuv, whose arrest over his alleged participation in Kazakh unrest sparked outr in neighboring Kyrgyzstan.

Ruzakhuv was shown in a video on Kazakh television saying he had flown to country to take part in protests and was promised $200.

In video, apparently taken in police custody, Ruzakhuv's face was bruised, and he had a large cut on his forehead.

Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry had demanded Ruzakhuv's release, and country's authorities on Monday sought to open a probe on charges of torture.

On Monday evening, Ruzakhuv returned to Kyrgyzstan.

He told a local TV channel that he came to Almaty on 2 January to visit a friend, but several days later, as protests turned violent, decided to travel back to Kyrgyzstan and was detained.

In jail, Ruzakhnuv said he heard from cellmates that confessing to going to Almaty with purpose of taking part in protests and being offered money for it was quickest way to get deported home, so that's what he decided to do.

"It was a path (home), so I decided to implicate myself, even though I didn't do it," Ruzakhuv said.